I was looking around for a racebook to play the Arc on Sunday. It was later that night, at The Mirage watching football, did I find that at 6:00 a.m. PST, I would have been able to see the action. I think after watching the race on YouTube, that it would have been worth the effort. If you missed the race, take a look for yourself:

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2009

Sea The Stars is being lauded as the greatest racehorse to grace the track – and he may well be – but the bare facts and figures of the form analysis of his historic win in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, suggest he hasn’t yet proved it.

That accolade is held by Sea Bird II, winner of the Arc in 1965 and rated 145 by Timeform. Sea The Stars continues to be rated 140 by the Halifax-based organization. Timeform has been assessing the merits of racehorses for more than 60 years and in that time has rated only Sea Bird II (145), Brigadier Gerard (144), Ribot (142) and Mill Reef (141) more highly than John Oxx’s Irish-based champion.

It goes without saying that the racing public would love to witness Sea The Stars take on America next month as Santa Anita beckons.

A trip stateside is an unnecessary, but definitive final stop on the road of invincibility, although Oxx’s instinct is gearing him towards missing the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 7th.

“My instinct would be that it is late in the year and probably asking too much,” admitted Oxx. “It could be a step too far to ask him to go again but he bounces so well out of his races. We certainly haven’t ruled it out.”

Racing needs all of the stars aligned for this weekend. The year has been all about the gals. This may balance out the mix and make it a spectacle not to miss. John Oxx may have put his top-notch runner up for the year. We can hope, but not expect to See The Star in California. He does feel it has been a long season, but the option is still open. Keep your fingers crossed, and get ready to watch a champion take the track. That is, if he makes the trip…..