Oxx has grounds for concern
The son of Cape Cross has already secured two Classic successes this season having become the first horse since Nashwan in 1989 to win Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas and follow up in the Derby at Epsom.
Oxx’s stable star features among 17 possibles for Sunday’s Irish equivalent at the confirmation stage but the Currabeg handler will not risk his charge if conditions are too soft.
“He worked this morning and everything went well. He came out of Epsom in great form and thankfully we have had no hold-ups since then,” said Oxx.
“I walked the track on Saturday and again this morning and there is still plenty of moisture in the ground so it wouldn’t take a lot of rain to change it against us.
“The weather is very warm but it’s also very humid and there is not much wind so the course is not drying very quickly.
“Today it would have been borderline as I thought the straight was on the slow side – maybe we would have been a little bit concerned.
“We had an awful lot of rain last Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and it is just taking time to dry out.
“We’ll make a decision whether to declare him and even then we would have to watch the weather. There is no rush to decide and we could even make a final decision on the day.”
Oxx has a second string to his bow in the Irish Classic with Mourayan also set to take his chance. The three-year-old, beaten just half a length by Sea The Stars as a juvenile, has been placed in the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on his two starts this season.
“He’ll probably take his chance regardless and he will probably like a bit of ease in the ground,” Oxx continued. “He disappointed us a little bit in the Derrinstown but we’re going to give him another chance, probably with blinkers on.
“He ran well in the Ballysax and maybe it was the faster ground that he didn’t like in the Derrinstown. He also jumped a road crossing and was never going well after that, so maybe he just hurt himself a bit.
“We’d just like to see him go again and see if he can improve on that.”
Many of those who took Sea The Stars on at Epsom could try their luck again, including the runner-up Fame And Glory, third home Masterofthehorse and fifth-placed Golden Sword, all of whom are trained by Aidan O’Brien.
The Ballydoyle handler has also left in Byzantine, Drumbeat, Freemantle, Hail Caesar, Malibu Bay, Rockhampton and Set Sail giving him no less than 10 contenders.
The Jim Bolger-trained Gan Amhras could bid to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Epsom and may be joined by stablemate Ard Na Greine, while Loch Long, Recharge and The Bull Hayes complete the possibles.
Oxx meanwhile is confident of a productive season for Katiyra as she prepares for her first start of the year in Saturday’s Audi Pretty Polly Stakes. The Peintre Celebre filly enjoyed a fine three-year-old campaign, winning in Listed and Group Two company as well as being placed in the Oaks at Epsom and the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp.
“This has been the plan for Katiyra for a while and she is going to run, all being well,” said Oxx.
“She’s in good shape and ready to start and I think she is fit enough to do herself justice.”
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby betting:
Paddy Power: 4-6 Sea The Stars, 11-4 Fame And Glory, 4-1 Masterofthehorse, 12-1 Gan Amhras, 16-1 Mourayan, 16-1 Recharge, 50-1 Drumbeat, 50-1 bar.
Coral: 4-5 Sea The Stars, 5-2 Fame And Glory, 4-1 Masterofthehorse, 14-1 Gan Amhras, 16-1 Golden Sword, 20-1 Mourayan, 25-1 Freemantle, Recharge, 33-1 Ard Na Greine, 50-1 bar.
Cashmans: 5-6 Sea The Stars, 3 Masterofthehorse, 10-3 Fame And Glory, 14 Gan Amhras, 16 Mourayan, 20 Golden Sword, Recharge, 66 Bar
