A MOUTH-WATERING clash between Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory could be on the cards in September’s Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes after Aidan O’Brien indicated yesterday that the Leopardstown Group One feature will be Fame And Glory’s next start.
An appearance by Fame And Glory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot later this month appears to have been ruled out by O’Brien who reported that Sunday’s Irish Derby winner has emerged from the Curragh in good shape.
“We are very happy with the way he has come out of Sunday. Nothing is set in stone with him but at this stage we are thinking of giving Fame And Glory a little break and bringing him back with a view to running in the Irish Champion Stakes and then the Arc,” the champion trainer said.
The Irish Champion is also a likely target for Sea The Stars who runs first in this Saturday’s Eclipse at Sandown.
The Classic-winning pair have met just once in last month’s Epsom Derby when Sea The Stars emerged best although Fame And Glory was widely believed to have been unsuited by a lack-lustre early pace. Immediately after Fame And Glory’s Irish Derby success, some firms made Sea The Stars an odds-on favourite to beat him again at Leopardstown if they clash.
O’Brien said yesterday that the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner, Mastercraftsman, is likely to be upped in distance for his next start which could be the Juddmonte International at York (extended 10f)
