John Oxx is still unsure over what trip Born To Sea will be campaigned next season.
Closely related to the brilliant Sea The Stars, whom Oxx trained to win the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes, Eclipse and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2009, he made a winning debut in a Listed race over six furlongs (1200m).
Born To Sea is now as short as 6-1 favourite to emulate his sibling by taking the Guineas at Newmarket next year.
Whether he can step up to 10 furlongs (2000m) and a mile and a half (2400m) beyond that is debatable, however.
Whereas Sea The Stars was by Cape Cross, Born To Sea is by Invincible Spirit, more known for injecting speed into his offspring.
“It’s hard to say what his trip is going to be as we don’t really have much racecourse evidence to go on,” Oxx said.
“He’s got a similar genetic profile to his three-parts brother as he’s by another son of Green Desert in Invincible Spirit, so I suppose when you look at it there’s much the same sort of genes there (Cape Cross is a son of Green Desert).
“How far will he go? I don’t know. He’s a sharp-looking horse all right.
“Invincible Spirit probably hasn’t had too many opportunities to sire a mile-and-a-half winner – it’s hard to tell, as it was in terms of Sea The Stars.
“He has the look of a miler (1600m) about him, but we won’t know just yet.
“Invincible Spirit did sire Lawman who won a Prix du Jockey Club over 10 and a half furlongs (2100m), so he can put a bit of distance into them.
“He’s on target for the Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown on October 30.
“I thought he’d run well on his debut, but it was nice to see him do it the way he did.”
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