Wednesday 5th August 2009
Sea The Stars entered for Emirates Airline Champion Stakes
THIS year’s £350,000 Group 1 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes looks set to be another outstanding renewal with a host of top-class horses among the 65-strong entry for the 10-furlong contest at Newmarket on Champions’ Day, Saturday, October 17.
After confirming himself as one of the best middle distance performers of recent times, Sea The Stars may return to the Rowley Mile, having started the campaign with a scintillating victory in the Group 1 stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at the start of May.
The John Oxx-trained three-year-old, one of 16 Irish-trained entries, went on to become the first horse since Nashwan to triumph in the first Classic of the season and the Epsom Derby, prior to dismissing older opposition with victory in the Eclipse at Sandown on July 4, when he vanquished the likes of subsequent Sussex Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes victor Conduit.
French trainers have a tremendous record in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, having triumphed in 21 renewals since 1945 and a strong entry of seven from across the Channel this year is headed by a quartet from the stable of Alain de Royer-Dupre.
The French champion trainer, who saddled Pride to victory in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes three years ago, has entered Beheshtam, who was fourth in this year’s Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly at the start of June on his latest appearance at Longchamp on July 14, the three-year-old colt came home sixth behind fellow Emirates Airline Champion Stakes contender Cavalryman in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris.
Chantilly-based Royer-Dupre may also be represented by Gris De Gris, who was second to Never On Sunday in the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp in May, Group One Hong Kong Vase fourth The Bogberry and Alpine Rose, who was second on her first start in Group 1 company when coming a length and a half behind Spanish Moon in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud at the end of June.
Royer-Dupre revealed: “There is plenty of time between now and October but all of the horses that I have entered would prefer some give in the ground, so I would be hopeful that one or more could run if the going was not too quick at Newmarket.
“Beheshtam was a bit immature in the Prix du Jockey Cub and the Grand Prix de Paris and I don’t think that it was a question of him not getting a mile and a half at Longchamp.
“He was just not mature enough for those races at the time. He has only had four starts but he is working better at the moment. He could run in the Group Two Grand Prix de Deauville at the end of the month providing the ground is good.
“We have given him the choice of races in the autumn and both the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are both possible targets - we will take it step by step with him.
“I was pleased with Gris De Gris when he was second in the Prix d’Ispahan and he is a real specialist for very deep ground. We have just been waiting for the right going with him. He is a good horse as he showed and can be very competitive in Group One company over 10 furlongs if there is soft ground.
“The Bogberry has made some very good progress since he was fifth in the Group One Prix Ganay in April and he might take his chance in the Group Three Gontaut-Biron at Deauville (August 15) if the ground is good.
“Alpine Rose is the best of my entries in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes. She is by Linamix and, while she goes in all conditions, I am sure that she will be a better filly on softer ground.
“She is a great filly and I think that the ground was too firm for her at Saint Cloud on her latest start. She still ran very well in that race and she has progressed since. I am sure that she will improve throughout the season and that we will see the best of her in the autumn.
“We have given her the option of going to Newmarket and she has several end of season targets open to her at the moment, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp. She is a real Group One filly and we will decide where to go with her nearer the time.”
Apart from Rip Van Winkle, Aidan O’Brien could also bid for a first success in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes with Mastercraftsman, who was fifth in the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas but went on to victory at the highest level in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The master of Ballydoyle’s 10 entries also include the Epsom Derby runner-up Fame And Glory, who recorded a bloodless victory in the Irish equivalent at the end of June while the cream of the fillies’ Classic crop may be represented by the Group 1 stanjames.com 1000 Guineas heroine Ghanaati, who also triumphed in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the dual Oaks winner Sariska.
