Oxx watches York weather

John Oxx has placed a question mark over the participation of Sea The Stars in Tuesday's Juddmonte International on the first day of York's Ebor meeting.

The equine star of the season skipped the King George at Ascot in favour of the 10-furlong heat on the Knavesmire as he looks to win his fourth Group One of the season.

However, with Oxx scouring weather forecasts for Yorkshire in earnest, what he has found has not thrilled him in the slightest.

"William Derby (clerk of the course) has been keeping me fully informed about the ground and I have all the weather forecasts in front of me," said Oxx.

"If all of the rain that is forecast arrives then it will be soft on Sunday in my opinion.

"There is a big question mark about Tuesday and I hope that all of the forecast rain doesn't arrive. The rain could miss York, but if it doesn't then we will have a tricky decision on Sunday morning.

"By then most of the rain may have come but I feel it will be an unclear situation.

"The forecast looks quite good for Monday and Tuesday, but trainers do not like these 'will I/won't I' decisions.

"There is a possibility we will have to declare him if the ground is uncertain, but if it is very soft then he won't be declared.

"He needs to have it good or faster if he is to run to his rating in the 130s, which is what people want to see.

"He needs good, fast ground and not good, slow ground as he really does feel the difference."

If Oxx is forced to miss York or not he has already stated the Irish Champion Stakes will be next for the brilliant colt, but the Arc is also on the agenda - once again ground permitting.

"The Arc is very much in mind and my only reservation over not running him (at Longchamp) is that the ground is unlikely to suit," he added.

"It is a tough regime and most horses that run in the Arc will not have run in the International and Irish Champion Stakes beforehand.

"If all goes well and the ground is dry then I think he will run in the Arc, and I would imagine that the owner will be keen to run as they won it with Sea The Stars' dam (Urban Sea).

"It is highly unlikely that he will race next year, but if the weather makes a mess of plans then we will have to think about it.

"The Breeders' Cup is a possibility and we have to think about it with the surface out there. If the horse is still fresh and well in November then we will have to think about it as it the trip and track will suit.

"I am boring when it comes to Sea The Stars' plans but you just don't know what will happen with the weather."

Sir Michael Stoute had two of the eight confirmations for the valuable prize in King George runner-up Tartan Bearer and Princess Of Wales's winner Doctor Fremantle.

Stoute has had 173 winners at York since 1973 and at least one winner for every calendar year since. He totals 58 winners at the Ebor meeting alone.

"I am very happy with both and they are fresh and well," said the Newmarket handler of his pair.

"They will need to be at their very best but I am happy to throw them into the ring.

"I do believe Tartan Bearer is best over a mile and a half.

"He was slightly impeded in the closing stages of the King George, but he is entitled to go for the International.

"He won the Dante at York. I believe he is as good as ever and he will prove it by the end of the year.

"You can scrub Doctor Fremantle's run at Royal Ascot and I was delighted with him at Newmarket.

"Ryan (Moore) will ride Tartan Bearer and we will get another top jockey for Doctor."

Jeremy Noseda's Forgotten Voice is the only other British challenger, but is unlikely to take part with the Royal Hunt Cup winner more likely to go for the Strensall Stakes instead.

All the other possibles hail from Ireland with Aidan O'Brien responsible for Mastercraftsman, Set Sail and Changingoftheguard and Dermot Weld Casual Conquest.

Stan Cosgrove, racing manager for owners Moyglare Stud, said of the latter: "He might run in the Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday or he could run the Juddmonte International, but that depends on the ground really.

"If the ground is soft, Sea The Stars won't run and we don't want to take on him, so we'll see."