Racing: John Oxx saw nothing to unduly worry him in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trials which took place at Longchamp on Sunday. As the Currabeg handler prepares Sea The Stars for the October showpiece — weather permitting — he was an interested observer in events outside Paris.
While the demotion of Dar Re Mi in the Prix Vermeille created plenty of column inches, the main beneficiary, Stacelita, is unlikely to meet the Derby winner in her favoured conditions.
“The Arc trials are what they are and a lot of the French horses are not fully wound up, they tend to want to give them easy races and they are a bit like exercise gallops,” said Oxx.
“On the ratings they still have lots to find, I wouldn’t read too much into the races yesterday as I’m sure all those nice horses will improve and be harder nuts to crack in three weeks’ time. But there was no outstanding performance that would make you think you’ve seen a horse that has shown dramatic improvement.
“At the same time it is another race on another day and a lot depends on luck in running and how the race is run, we’ll just have to see how they progress but no horse has shot up the ratings and looks more of a threat today than it was a week ago.
“I know the jockey and trainer of Stacelita say she comes into her own on soft ground as it stops the others and not her, but if she gets soft ground she won’t be meeting Sea The Stars, that’s the reality.
“The ground at Leopardstown in the Champion Stakes was fine, it was the soft side of good, but soft ground when they get into it takes from his performance. Proper soft ground will impede him and people do not go to the races to see him run seven, eight or 10lb below form,” he said.
If the rain does stop the Cape Cross colt from running in France, Oxx has two other options.
“If we miss the Arc we’ll have to look at the Champion Stakes at Newmarket or Santa Anita (Breeders’ Cup) and it would probably be the Classic rather than the Turf,” continued Oxx.
“The owners have no wish to see him race in Hong Kong, it is too late for a three-year-old and the Breeders’ Cup is plenty late enough. No final decision has been taken yet, but it is highly unlikely he’ll be in training next year.
“The ratings are there for all to see, you’d have to say he was the best horse in training and while under-performance will get him beat or bad luck in running - if everything stays according to plan you’d have to say he is going to be very hard to beat.”