Plenty to be learned from Derby despite Stars’ absence

TED WALSH likened the absence of Sea The Stars from Sunday’s Irish Derby at the Curragh to the Cheltenham Gold Cup without Kauto Star.

You know, it was the perfect summing up of a race which simply fell flat, leaving the admittedly impressive Fame And Glory to come home in his own time, against what had to be regarded as second-rate opposition.

It was, of course, hugely disappointing Sea The Stars failed to meet the engagement and there were those who weren’t slow to voice their opinions, essentially that the ground was a lame enough excuse.