Oaks and Derby thread! 5/6 th of June

Not only did Sea The Stars create his own piece of racing history by becoming the first horse to win the Guineas and Derby for 20 years, his victory also hit the bookmakers for six.

Well-backed all week in the run up to the great race, he was deposed as favourite in the minutes before the off by Fame And Glory.

However, he was still only an 11-4 chance and on top of all the ante-post money that had been ploughed on John Oxx's Cape Cross colt, the industry was left counting the cost.

One Irish firm was hit particularly hard, with Paddy Power, spokesman for the bookmaker of the same name, saying: "That was just the sort of recession-busting fillip punters needed.

"Sea The Stars had headed our Derby market straight from his Guineas win until just before the off. Every man, woman and their dog seemed to be on.

"I wasn't here to see Nashwan do the Guineas-Derby double, and so while the £2million entrance fee for the privilege of seeing Sea The Stars become the first horse since is a bit rich, it's hats off to his backers."

Ladbrokes were slightly relieved Fame And Glory was beaten but are also facing a hefty payout.

David Williams, their spokesman, said: "We're not quite seeing stars but we're a bit groggy.

"As the front two (in the betting) hit the front, we were hopping between the frying pan and the fire.

"Our only consolation is that the runner-up Fame And Glory would have been much worse.

"The late plunge on Fame And Glory was immense. We've escaped with flesh wounds and we'll take it."

William Hill are predicting that punters will be returned around £20million in winnings and make Sea The Stars 4-1 to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

David Hood, spokesman for William Hill, said: "We knew our fate from early this morning when the public ploughed their cash into Sea the Stars, and come off-time, we were in-line for huge losses .

"Punters will be queuing from a galaxy far, far, away to claim their winnings."

Totesport were also hit hard, and spokesman George Primarolo said: "Although John Oxx had reservations about the trip for Sea The Stars, this didn't stop punters putting their faith in him and his victory has ruined what had been a cracking meeting for the layers up to that point."

Was hoping for a triple crown bid, surprised they don't want to make history?

Triple Crown bid looks unlikely for Sea The Stars


JOHN OXX appears to have dampened any hopes of Epsom hero Sea The Stars attempting to become Britain's first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky in 1970.

The Curragh-based trainer, speaking in the wake of Sea The Stars adding the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday to the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas, suggested a further step up in trip for the Ladbrokes St Leger in September was not on the agenda.


"I'm a believer in the Triple Crown," said Oxx, "and I think it will be won within the next ten years with all these good middle-distance stallions about, but if we were worried about the trip for the Derby I think we'd be very worried going into the Leger if we had him entered!



"We'll have to talk about it of course but this lad will be very good over a mile, and ten furlongs."

Coral have Sea The Stars as their new favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October, at 7-2 (from 12s), and also 6-1 favourite for the Breeders' Cup Classic (from 14s).

Oxx added: "The International at York and the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown are obvious races and there is also the Irish Derby to think about.

"It hasn't stopped raining in Ireland for about two and half weeks though, so we may wait an extra week and have a look at the Eclipse. The big mile-and-a-quarter races will be right up his street, but he must have good, fast ground and we were worried that the rain today may have slowed the ground down."

Plans for the second, third, fourth and fifth are yet to emerge. All are trained by Aidan O'Brien whose six-strong party could not resist the Oxx-trained winner.

Fame And Glory, Masterofthehorse, Rip Van Winkle and Golden Sword could all come into consideration for the Irish Derby on June 28.