Oxx not ruling out National Stakes showdown for his juvenile stars

JOHN Oxx has not totally ruled out a clash between his exciting colts Arazan and Sea The Stars in the Bank Of Scotland (Ireland) National Stakes at the Curragh on September 14.

Arazan, a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Azamour, is on target for Ireland’s top staying two-year-old race following his impressive victory in the Futurity Stakes on Saturday.

Sea The Stars is also a possible for the seven-furlong showpiece while the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes is another option later in the month.

Definite plans have yet to be made for the half-brother to Galileo, who also looked a colt with a future when winning at Leopardstown recently.

“It (running against each other) wouldn’t matter, they are owned by different people so that wouldn’t be a factor. We’ll just have to see where it’s right to run each horse,” said Oxx.

“Arazan is fine, no problems. He didn’t have a hard race although the conditions were tough enough. It didn’t take anything out of him, he lost little or no weight.

“The National Stakes in three weeks’ time is the obvious next start for him, that will be the plan at the moment.

“We haven’t got any fixed plan. He might stop at that or have one more, but that would be the maximum.”

As for Sea The Stars, the Currabeg-based handler went on: “We’ve got an open mind. We’ll see how he goes, he wouldn’t like the ground too soft.

“We’ll have to watch the weather a bit for him, but he’s in the National Stakes and he’s in the Beresford Stakes as well two weeks later so chances are he’ll run in one of them, but no decision has been taken yet.”

Both colts figure prominently in the ante-post betting for next year’s Classics, with Arazan 12-1 for the 2000 Guineas and Sea The Stars available at 25-1 for both that race and the Derby.

Oxx expects Sea The Stars to stay further than Arazan in the long-term.

“Sea The Stars is by Cape Cross while Galileo was by Sadler’s Wells. There’ll be a difference in stamina potential there but Cape Cross did get Ouija Board,” Oxx continued.

“I wouldn’t be absolutely certain he’d stay but I think he probably will.

“Arazan is more of a miler, I’d say. He’s by Anabaa, who basically gets sprinters and milers.”

One horse who will not be seeking Group One glory just yet is the filly Tanoura, who will bypass the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday after making a winning debut at Leopardstown.

“I’m going to give her a little bit longer and wait for a mile Listed race three weeks from now,” Oxx added.

“She’s a nice filly but the Moyglare could come a bit quick.”