Ebor Festival, York
Date: Tuesday 18 - Friday 21 August
Coverage: Commentary of all the main races on BBC Radio 5 Live and via the 5 Live website (UK users only) More racing coverage details
 The win for Sea The Stars was his sixth in a row |
Derby winner Sea The Stars got the better of rival Mastercraftsman to win the Juddmonte International Stakes on the first day of York's Ebor Festival. John Oxx's colt, who had also won the 2000 Guineas and the Eclipse Stakes this year, went off at 1-4 favourite. Sea The Stars and Mastercraftsman drew clear of pacemakers Georgebernardshaw and Set Sail on the home straight. Although Mastercraftsman looked briefly like causing a shock, Sea The Stars pulled clear to win under Mick Kinane. A delighted Oxx said afterwards: "They probably went a steady pace and of course Mastercraftsman is no tourist. He took it to him there at the end and just made him work. "It's great that he keeps on winning and he's a lovely horse to watch. He's a horse who'll never win by much and Mick says he'll never win by more than about a length. "Today he powered through the gap when it appeared. He quickened to go through and then Mick took a pull as he was going so well. When he took a pull the horse switched off and Mastercraftsman quickened up. Oxx also confirmed that the three-year-old's next engagement would be the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on 5 September.  | 606: DEBATE |
Kinane admitted afterwards that he had taken a gamble during the race to get the better of Mastercraftsman and his jockey Johnny Murtagh. "I asked him to go and quicken up between the two Ballydoyle pacemakers, which was probably a bit of a risky manoeuvre, but I wanted to follow Johnny through. "So I let him quicken up and then eased him down. Then Johnny quickened and found a couple of lengths and his horse has run a hell of a race. Just a combination of those things made it more difficult than maybe it should have been." O'Brien also paid tribute to the winner: "Our fellow loves to get into a battle, but Mick rode a brilliant race on Sea The Stars. It was a great race and the winner is a great horse. "He's not short on speed, our fellow, but he can run either over a mile or a mile and a quarter. I'm not sure where he will go now - all options are open to him."
Juddmonte International Stakes (York) 1. Sea The Stars (M J Kinane) 1-4 Fav
2. Mastercraftsman (J Murtagh) 3-1
3. Set Sail (J A Heffernan) 125-1 4 ran. Dist: 1, dist
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