Oxx to run Born To Sea in St James's Palace

RACING: BORN TO Sea will be kept to Group One company when he lines up next in Royal Ascot's St James's Palace Stakes in 20 days' time.

The brother to Sea The Stars and Galileo finished fifth to Power in last weekend’s Irish 2,000 Guineas in a performance that bettered a lack-lustre effort in the Newmarket Guineas. “He’s come out of the race fine and while we were a bit disappointed at first that he couldn’t finish a bit closer, I think you’d have to be happy as it was a step in the right direction after Newmarket,” said trainer John Oxx yesterday.

“The jockey (Pat Smullen) was obviously determined to get him settled and from stall one, I wasn’t surprised he ended up last early on. He then ended up a bit detached before coming home like a train and in the end he was only beaten two and a half lengths.

“As things worked out he was a bit too far back, but I think there are more positives than negatives to take from the race and we’ll look towards the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot next. I think he’s learning all the time and hopefully things work out a bit better for him at Ascot,” the Curragh trainer added.

In 2004, the Oxx-trained Azamour was beaten in the Irish Guineas before going on to land the St James’s Palace.