Stars skips Derby date

Sea The Stars has been ruled out of tomorrow's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.The English 2000 Guineas and Derby winner was due to bid for a Classic hat-trick but heavy rain on Friday had turned conditions against him.Trainer John Oxx's wife Caitriona confirmed: "It's official, Sea The Stars will not be running at the Curragh. We wanted to run him but the ground is not right for him and he will go for the Eclipse now."Sea The Stars will be stepping back to 10 furlongs in Sandown's Coral-Eclipse next Saturday.The Group One sees the first real clash of the Classic generation with their older rivals and the sponsors make Sea The Stars their 5-4 favourite for the contest.Having already emulated Nashwan in becoming the first Guineas winner to triumph at Epsom in 20 years, he would be following in that horse's hoofprints if he can score at Sandown too.Last year's St Leger winner Conduit is the 11-4 second favourite while Derby fourth Rip Van Winkle is a 9-2 chance.Coral's David Stevens said: "Sea The Stars has already emulated Nashwan by completing the Guineas and Derby double, and we make him a hot favourite to become the first Epsom hero since that great colt to follow up with victory in the Coral-Eclipse, although it looks like he could face a host of top-class rivals."