Sit back and admire a true star

Sometimes you just have to forget the punting side of racing and just enjoy the moment.

While the professional backers might well wade in at odds of 1-2 about Sea The Stars for tomorrow's £600,000 Juddmonte International at York, perhaps the safest option is to savour a very special horse - possibly the best since Dancing Brave in 1986.

Happily, the forecast for 20mm of rain on the Knavesmire over the weekend proved way off the mark which means that Sea The Stars, who is estimated to be worth £50million following victories in the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Coral-Eclipse, is likely to get his preferred good to firm ground.

The John Oxx-trained colt has enjoyed a trouble-free preparation since winning the Eclipse at Sandown last month and, though both Aidan O'Brien's Mastercraftsman - who will have the benefit of two Ballydoyle pacemakers - and Sir Michael Stoute's King George runner-up Tartan Bearer provide formidable opposition tomorrow, jockey Michael Kinane is brimming with confidence.

He said: "Plenty of the top horses from yesteryear had a kink in them but Sea The Stars has the temperament to match his ability.

"Nothing fazes him - he has speed and stamina and is the complete package. There are very few who have proved themselves champions at eight, 10 and 12 furlongs. I was very fond of Galileo, his half-brother, but this fellow could just be the best that I have ridden."

Mastercraftsman was four lengths behind Sea The Stars in the Guineas at Newmarket but has since won the Irish equivalent and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and jockey Johnny Murtagh is convinced that this step up to a mile-and-a-quarter could bring about the necessary improvement.

Former champion rider Kieren Fallon is adamant that Murtagh will need to get first run on Sea The Stars and not allow the hot favourite to boss the closing stages. He said: "Johnny's only chance is to kick early and draw the sting from Mick's mount."