Stars camp have ground for optimism

A warm Friday and a positive weather forecast provided hope for the organisers of Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby that Sea The Stars will be among the line-up.The colt's trainer John Oxx was concerned about conditions becoming too soft at the Curragh after 12 millimetres of rainfall on Thursday night and a going change to good to yielding in places was also not music to his ears.Paul Hensey, the Curragh's racecourse manager, said: "It has been a nice day, the sun is shining and the ground is drying. The forecast is for lovely weather on both Saturday and Sunday. Obviously it will be John's decision whether he wants to run."He added: "We're in the lap of the gods, but we'd be really hopeful the forecast is accurate."One man who will be keener than many for Sea The Stars to take his chance is Fran Berry, who would otherwise lose the ride on Oxx's second-string, Mourayan, to Mick Kinane.Kinane rode Mourayan in his two starts this season, when behind Fame And Glory in the Derrinstown and Ballysax Derby trials."I'm looking forward to it, but I'm just hoping the weather is fine and Sea The Stars runs," Berry told At The Races."Mourayan is a very nice ride to get and the trip of a mile and a half looks ideal for him. I've ridden him at home for the last couple of weeks and his work has been very good."He seems to have sharpened up and you couldn't be more happier going into the race, he's definitely as good as he can be. He's bred for the trip and his running style suggests the extra two furlongs will be a big help to him."