Kinane and Murtagh ready for Champion Stakes showdown Mick Kinane and Johnny Murtagh are getting excited about the mouth-watering clash of Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 5th. Mick Kinane said of the dual Classic winner: “Sea The Stars didn’t surprise me in the Eclipse, he did it really well and the race is working out well. He has always done everything we have ever asked of him. He has everything, pace, speed, stamina, temperament. Nothing fazes him.” Sea The Stars is a half-brother to Galileo which Kinane rode during his time as stable jockey at Ballydoyle:“It is difficult to compare him with Galileo who was a very good Derby winner and a King George winner, but he was never asked to go the Guineas route. This fellow has more pace than Galileo would have had, and he stays. As a two-year-old, Sea The Stars was always a horse that was looking to go a trip, then when he won the Guineas people questioned his stamina for a mile and a half. I had no worries about him staying, but he has so much pace that 10 furlongs (the distance of the Irish Champion Stakes) could be his optimum. He is up there with the best horses I have ridden. He may be the best. He has it all, mentally and physically. He is the complete package.” Fame And Glory was less than two lengths behind Sea The Stars when the pair met previously in the Investec Epsom Derby and Johnny Murtagh said of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winner: “Fame And Glory progressed a lot between the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, he was really impressive in the Irish Derby, and he has gone forward again since then. He has freshened up very well since the Irish Derby and has lots of pace, and we think he has improved again. We think that he is a very good horse. It is one-nil to Sea The Stars in their private duel, he is the champion, but we’re hoping that we can level the score on 5th September.” Tom Burke, Leopardstown Racecourse Manager said: - “The Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes will be held for the first time under our one-enclosure policy with an admission price of just €20 with concession prices for seniors, students and online ticket buyers.”
