Star Catcher to Vermeille

[Wandering Eyes]

Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will bid to follow up her victory in the G1 Kerrygold Irish Oaks by giving trainer John Gosden a groundbreaking first success in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp on Sept. 15. The Newmarket handler plans to give the ‘TDN Rising Star’ a short break, before readying her to try to become the first British-trained winner of the Group 1 prize since the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in 2010. Running out a decisive winner of the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot on her previous start, the Anthony Oppenheimer-owned 3-year-old backed that success up with victory in The Curragh Classic on Saturday.

Gosden said, “She did lots of eating and sleeping when she got back on Sunday, she is in great form. I think the Vermeille is probably very likely. She has been to Royal Ascot and The Curragh, so freshening up and going for the Vermeille will be a good idea.”

A trip to France is on the agenda for G1 St James’s Palace S. runner-up King Of Comedy (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who will be aimed at the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 11 rather than the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood.

“He is in great form and we will be looking at the Jacques le Marois,” said Gosden. “I think the straight mile of Deauville will suit him well. We’ve freshened him up and given him a break since Ascot, as he was on the go fairly early in the spring. Physically he has done well.”

Looking further ahead, Gosden plans to step the ‘TDN Rising Star’ up in trip after earmarking the Oct. 19 G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot in October as the long-term target.

He added, “I think in the end his best trip will be a mile and a quarter. [Owner] Lady Bamford knows the family well and they are best at that trip. I think in the end the proper mile-and-a-quarter races like the Sept. 14 G1 Irish Champion and Champion S. will be for him.

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