O'Brien not scared of Stars

Aidan O'Brien is looking forward to taking on Sea The Stars with Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory in the Tattersalls Million Irish Champion Stakes next month.

The Ballydoyle colt chased home John Oxx's charge at Epsom and showed stamina to be his forte when running out a convincing winner in the Irish equivalent when finishing strongly off a strong pace.

However, O'Brien insists the drop back in trip will not be a problem for the son of Montjeu.

"Fame And Glory is very well and came out of the Irish Derby well and the Irish Champion Stakes has been the plan since," he said.

"Dropping back down to 10 furlongs isn't an issue with him, he has so much pace.

"It should be a true test and hopefully the best horse over the distance on the day will win."

Sea The Stars, who is likely to prove best at 10 furlongs despite his Epsom win, followed up in the Coral-Eclipse and is on target for the Juddmonte International at York.

"He came out of the Eclipse well and he had a little break afterwards," said Oxx. "We just stepped up his work in the past week, and he is on schedule for the Juddmonte International at York on August 18.

"After that, the plan is to go to the Irish Champion Stakes. It's a great race, it has a great history, it's at home, it's our Champion Stakes, and we have been lucky enough to win it a couple of times (with Timarida in 1996 and Azamour in 2004).

"They usually have good ground there and that is important to Sea The Stars. He won his maiden on soft ground and he won the Beresford Stakes last year on yielding ground, but at this level now, he does need good or fast ground.

"He is expected to run to a certain level now and he needs good ground in order to do that.

"He was lucky enough to get his ground in the Guineas, the Derby and the Eclipse, so hopefully it will be the same for the Irish Champion Stakes.

"The opposition is tough, Fame And Glory is a very good horse, a stayer with a turn of foot. It should be a great race."