HE may be on the verge of making history but they're queuing up to take on Sea The Stars in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc `de Triomphe.

Winning the 2000 Guineas, Derby and Europe's richest race has been beyond even such greats as Nijinsky but the latest Irish racing machine is odds-on to stamp himself as the best for decades.

It's a bonus that the colt is ridden by star jockey Mick Kinane but the three-year-old has never taken on so many rivals.

There is every chance Sea The Stars will face a maximum 20-runner field in Paris after Jean-Claude Rouget's Stacelita and the Andre Fabre-trained Cavalryman were supplemented at the declaration stage - but not Michael Bell's Oaks winner Sariska.

Kinane, though, isn't too bothered.

"I've won the race in 1989 and '99, so hopefully nine is my lucky number," said the 50-year-old Irish jockey.

"Sea The Stars's been putting weight on after his races really well and he's physically been getting very strong during the autumn.

"I don't think anyone should have any doubts about him stepping back up to a mile-and-a-half and we haven't done anything different with him at home - it's just been a case of keeping him right.

"Longchamp as a track is fairly straightforward but the Arc is normally a biggish field and you always need a bit of luck, too.

"There are always plenty of horses in it that have a chance of being competitive, but obviously I hope I'm on the right horse."