York set to be next target for Sea The Stars

BRILLIANT Coral-Eclipse winner Sea The Stars will almost certainly miss the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and instead be aimed at the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York.

The John Oxx-trained three-year-old, whom Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation are keen to purchase - and insiders believe they could buy the colt as early as the next fortnight - has a long-term target of the Irish Champion Stakes on 5 September.

He will almost certainly be ruled out from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October because of likely easy ground.

Oxx said: "There has been a brief discussion about where we go next, but we probably won't make a decision until the middle of the week.

"Realistically, the King George is less than three weeks away and the Juddmonte International would allow more space between races."

Sea The Stars, who followed up success in the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby, emulated the great Nashwan - winner of the same three races 20 years ago - with a length victory over Rip Van Winkle at Sandown on Saturday.

The British Horseracing Authority's senior handicapper Phil Smith has allotted Sea The Stars a rating of 131 - the same mark as the Dick Hern-trained star.

Smith said: "The form looks great, the time was fantastic and was only a second outside Kalaglow's course record.

Meanwhile, next season's 2,000 Guineas favourite Canford Cliffs seems set to drop back to five and a half furlongs for the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte on 26 July.

Unbeaten in both his starts, the Richard Hannon-trained colt was an emphatic winner of the six-furlong Coventry Stakes last time.

"We will have a look at the race before making a final decision, but the timing looks right and we would then consider the Prix Morny at Deauville on 23 August," Hannon said.