Too early to get carried away with Sea The Stars
I thought it was really sweet of them to run the race in precisely the manner required to ensure that any stamina worries regarding our latest hero were of no consequence.
I mean why didn’t they tell us this was going to be a leisurely stroll in the park and, instead of going for a half-decent touch, we could have had Kate and the kitchen on as well!
What the hell was going on? Watched the race at home and couldn’t believe what was unfolding before my eyes.
Going into this Derby, there was no doubt Sea The Stars was the fastest horse in the race, as he had shown with that devastating late kick when winning the English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Those of us who had lumped on were always fearful he would come there swinging, El Gran Senor-style, and simply get outstayed through the final furlong.
It was a possibility, but a risk well worth taking, given we were getting more than fair odds to our dough.
But after half a mile, I must confess to allowing myself the luxury of a minor burst of laughter, because the contest was effectively over.
Golden Sword was making the running, but we have seen horses go down to the start quicker than that.
Last week, I put on record Kinane was likely to ride Sea The Stars as if there were no stamina doubts whatsoever and that’s exactly what the old fox did.
From the time the horses left the stalls, all the way to the line, there was one man bossing that race and it was Kinane.
The Ballydoyle tactics left most pundits, you suspect, completely puzzled. The logical conclusion is Golden Sword was making the running to help Rip Van Winkle get the trip.
But off a dawdling pace was there any reason to think any horse could beat Sea The Stars for speed?
And, of course, Rip Van Winkle has certainly done a lot more talking than running. He’s now failed in the Dewhurst (Newmarket), the English 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby.
It would be ridiculous to write him off just yet, but if he’s not a morning glory, he’s getting there!
Seamus Heffernan said earlier this week he would ride eventual second, Fame And Glory, differently, if given the chance.
That’s fair enough, but the problem with the Ballydoyle jockeys, Heffernan, Richard Hughes on Masterofthehorse, Johnny Murtagh on Rip Van Winkle and Colm O’Donoghue on Golden Sword is that they all seemed to be working off a pre-arranged plan and none of them saw fit to change it at any stage.
What it meant was that Sea The Stars was allowed to do very much as he liked and is far too talented a horse not to take advantage.
If Sea The Stars heads for the Irish Derby at the Curragh at the end of the month, the place will be packed.
It will have plenty to do with the quality of the Cape Cross colt, but also with the Ballydoyle battalions and what will surely amount to a massive change in tactics.
I think we can be fairly certain Rip Van Winkle won’t run or, if he does, that Murtagh will discard him.
Murtagh will surely go for either Fame And Glory or Masterofthehorse and, offered even-money your choice, I’ll bet it will be the latter.
Of all of them in the Derby, he was surely the one most inconvenienced by the lack of pace in the race.
He had no chance, out the back, the way the contest developed and, I’d say, is a fair sort.
Over the last few days, one has had to endure endless waffle about the superstar Sea The Stars is now supposed to be.
As one of his biggest fans, here’s one who will wait just a little while longer before getting swept up in the emotion.
The Curragh promises to be a far greater test than Epsom. More than likely he will again come through with all guns blazing, but that will be time enough to be getting carried away.
