Sea The Stars seals historic win
Derby and 2,000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars storms to victory in the Group One Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park.
Sea the Stars wins Coral-Eclipse
• 4-7 favourite holds off Rip Van Winkle
• Horse emulates Nashwan’s 1989 feat
Sea The Stars confirmed his superiority with another stunning performance in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.
Having already won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, John Oxx’s colt was sent off as the 4-7 favourite to land a third Group One. Despite Rip Van Winkle attacking throughout the final furlong, Sea The Stars found more for the pressure to run out an impressive one-length winner.
Sea The Stars was attempting to emulate Nashwan, who was the last Derby winner to gain a victory in the Eclipse against older horses back in 1989.
Settled way off a furious early gallop set by Lang Shining and Set Sail, Kinane was always travelling beautifully.
Jimmy Fortune, deputising for the suspended Johnny Murtagh, tracked the Cape Cross colt on Rip Van Winkle with Ryan Moore content to sit last of the 10 runners on Conduit.
The race began in earnest turning into the straight with Conduit launching his bid down the outside, although he struggled to get on terms with Sea The Stars and Rip Van Winkle. The two younger horses pulled four and a half lengths clear of last year’s St Leger winner but it was Sea The Stars who came out on top, as he has done on the two previous occasions he has met the Aidan O’Brien-trained runner.
South Africa 9-28 Lions
The Lions ended their tour of South Africa with a record-equalling victory over the Springboks in the third Test in Johannesburg.
Shane Williams scored twice as the Lions opened a 15-6 half-time lead and the tourists closed out a pulsating win with an intercept try from Ugo Monye while Stephen Jones kicked 13 points.
The Springboks had already won the series but the Lions ensured they return home with pride restored after their first Test triumph since Brisbane in 2001.
The margin of victory equalled the Lions’ victory over South Africa in Pretoria in 1974 and was the result of a performance of great intensity from the opening salvos.
Mike Phillips produced a crunching tackle on Springbok centre Jaque Fourie while Joe Worsley steamrollered Ryan Kankowski in the best of the early blows as the Lions looked to set the tone for the afternoon.
Williams made the most of the Lions’ strong hold on midfield as he received a pass from Jamie Heaslip and then burst through to score. His second try was the result of a brilliantly instinctive tap back from Riki Flutey after the Englishman had galloped onto his own kick.
The second half lacked the pace of the first as the Lions contained South Africa before Monye ensured they could not be caught by intercepting a loose Springboks pass and racing away to score.
Debate the match in Robert Kitson’s blog here.
