John Oxx, trainer of dual-Classic winning hero Sea The Stars, has admitted he is keeping his fingers crossed that there is as little rain as possible between now and the Juddmonte International at the York Ebor meeting on August 18th.

The trainer has identified the 10-furlong Group 1 as the next target for his stable star, but his participation depends on the weather and whether or not the ground is suitable on the day.

John Oxx admitted: "That's still the plan. The weather is a worry but if the going is good he'll be there."

Sea The Stars’ almighty reputation took a further boost at Glorious Goodwood, when Rip Van Winkle was an emphatic winner of the Sussex Stales.  The Ballydoyle star was behind John Oxx’s colt in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown on his latest start and the form of the race is becoming stronger and stronger.

The trainer is confident that the result would be the same should the two giants of the Classic generation meet again:   "The Eclipse is there for all to see. We beat him fair and square at Sandown and my fellow was idling bit at the end."

However, those who thought that a re-match was improbable may be mistaken, with the trainer continuing to explain that he could aim Sea The Stars at the QEII At Ascot in September, a race that Aidan O’Brian has aimed Rip Van Winkle at.

"It's there as another option but it's totally weather dependent.  Distance doesn't seem to bother him."

Betfair punters do not seem to be too worried about Sea The Star’s participation in the Juddmonte International and are willing to back him at 1.66, with Mastercraftsman next in the market trading at 3.75.