General / Simon Rowlands / 01 July 2009 / Leave a comment

The Coral Eclipse may be the big race for most but Thursday's Conservatory Roof Glass Handicap Stakes is holding our blogger's attentions.

The defection of Sea The Stars from the Irish Derby at the weekend robbed racing fans of an opportunity to answer some of the "what if" questions that arose from the horse's success at Epsom. In particular, it would have been fascinating to see how he would have fared against some of those he had beaten in the Derby in a 12f race with a greater emphasis on stamina.

In his absence - due to ground that ironically ended up being hardly any softer than he had encountered at Epsom - a strongly run race led to an impressive win for the Derby second Fame And Glory, who had been one of a number ridden with a lack of enterprise in that race.

Some of the praise heaped on Sea The Stars after Epsom was clearly over the top. There is no way that winning a Derby ridden out with only about two lengths covering the first five home justifies "superstar" status on its own, though the horse had arguably achieved slightly more in winning the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and probably remains capable of better when truly pushed.

As it is, it's likely that Fame And Glory ran to a rather higher level in success at the Curragh - scoring by five lengths (from Epsom fifth Golden Sword), a length and 10 lengths - than Sea The Stars did in winning by much more modest margins at Newmarket and Epsom. The ball is now in Sea The Stars' court.

Fortunately, we should not have to wait long for it to be smashed back across the net, as Sea The Stars is due to run on Saturday in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. It may seem odd, for one who was keen to oppose the horse at around [2.0] in the Irish Derby, but I have sided with him already at that sort of a price ([2.1] to be precise) for this coming weekend's race. Sea The Stars can still be backed at [2.06] on Betfair at the time of writing, and I would rather be a backer than a layer at that price.

Not only does 10f at Sandown seem tailormade to bring the best out of Sea The Stars, but it could well count against his most significant rival on form, the St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit ([5.6] ante-post on Betfair). The latter was beaten just a nose by Cima de Triomphe ([13.0] for Saturday) at this course and distance in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May, but the form of that race does not stand close inspection.

Fellow 3-y-o Rip Van Winkle is a valid danger, but his odds ([5.3]) strike me as skimpy and more a reflection of his reputation than his achievement. The best outsider could well be Twice Over ([38.0]), whose close fourth in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot deserves more respect than appears to be the case (even allowing for the muddling nature of that race) and who could again benefit if things become tactical.

What is for sure is that what had at one stage seemed a "soft" Group 1 at Sandown now looks like being one of this summer's highlights. I may just pop along to Esher myself.

Before then, there is a race of even more significance, for me that is, on Thursday at Haydock, where One Way Or Another bids to follow up his recent course-and-distance success. Contrary to what I suggested last week, I have kept a small share in the horse (along with a lease in King's Miracle, who is now back in training), and he will again run in my colours.

One Way Or Another seemed to benefit from a strong pace the other day, and the presence of Summer Gold, Pride of Kings and Angel Rock in a nine-runner field point to things panning out similarly this time. That could also suit one or two of the others, however, notably the top-weight Flipando.

A rise in One Way Or Another's mark of 3lb is by no means excessive, so I have to be hopeful that he will place and even possibly win, especially with the stable continuing to go well.
I will not, however, be there in person to see him run, and my excuse for missing the race is one that I suspect Sheikh Mohammed has never used. I will be in Hyde Park watching Blur instead.

Nonetheless, events at Haydock around 3:40 are likely to determine whether I feel like a "Top Man" who is having one of his "Best Days" or that "Modern Life Is Rubbish" and that "This Is A Low", as Blur put it in a rather different context...