Stars well ahead of Derby preparation

Sea The Stars is "fresh and well" as John Oxx continues his Investec Derby preparations.

The 2000 Guineas winner will head straight to Epsom with only the unlikely event of soft ground a concern for connections.

"Sea The Stars has come out of the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas in good shape and he seems fresh and well this week. Everything is fine with him and we will go straight to Epsom with him now."

Sea The Star is 3/1 favourite for the Investec Derby with Sky Bet.

Oxx hopes Mourayan can book his place in the Investec Derby line-up in Sunday's Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.

The Aga Khan-owned colt faces a rematch with Fame And Glory, who beat him in the Ballysax Stakes on their reappearance last month.

"I think that the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial will tell us whether Mourayan is a serious Investec Derby horse or not. He was a promising two-year-old and ran a promising race on his return in the Ballysax Stakes," Oxx said.

"I think Sunday's race will be a bit of a re-hash of the Ballysax Stakes, with us taking on Fame And Glory again. I thought that we were a bit unlucky not to beat Fergus McIver last time out and I would be disappointed if Mourayan didn't get the better of him this time around.

"He got caught in on the rail in the Ballysax Stakes and had to let everything get past. The race was over by the time he got out but he flew home and he should have been in a photo with the winner at the least.

"We have to hope that he has come on for that run but I am sure that Fame And Glory will have come on for the race as well. It will be interesting to see where they fit in with each other."

Oxx is determined there will be an even gallop on Sunday.

"Tarankali has been declared as a possible pacemaker. You wouldn't expect him to be in the first three, but you still need a decent horse to set a good gallop. Aidan O'Brien has a couple of horses as well and between us we should ensure a decent gallop," he said.

"We are hoping Mourayan runs well enough to be a possible runner at Epsom and everything has gone well with his preparation for the race. He would really need to be fighting out the finish with Fame And Glory for us to pursue our Investec Derby plans."