SEA THE STARS
Six Group 1 victories, £4.4 million in prize money and over 5,000 Facebook followers. Following his retirement on Tuesday 12th October 2009, Sea The Stars will go down in history as one of racing’s unprecedented equine heroes.
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This is the horse that epitomises the thoroughbred breed, not just through his remarkable race record, but also his pedigree. A half brother to 2001 Derby hero Galileo, his dam Urban Sea won the 1993 Arc, suggesting that Sea The Stars was born to be a champion.
This year he fulfilled all potential, under the guidance of trainer John Oxx and in the hands of jockey Mick Kinane, conquering the toughest competition in Britain, France and Ireland.
Sea The Stars earned over £4.4m in total over his career
He earned his place in the history books by becoming the first horse since Nashwan to complete the 2,000 Guineas-Derby double on June 6, 2009.
Then, rerouted from a possible Classic treble in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, he challenged Rip Van Winkle in the Coral-Eclipse before sauntering home in the Tattersalls Million Irish Champion Stakes.
Now with five Group 1s under his belt, Sea The Stars gained legendary status by overcoming Europe’s finest at Longchamp in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 4.
Sea the Stars' crowning glory was his emotional victory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Racing thrives on tradition, it provides the very backbone to the sport, and the breeding of Sea The Stars, the horse that took racing’s oldest and most prestigious titles in his stride, encapsulates the importance of both tradition and evolution in breeding.
His father is Cape Cross, himself by the excellent sire and sire of sires, Green Desert, from racing’s infamous Northern Dancer line, producing a direct link to the lions share of champions. With his dam having herself raced at the highest level before going on to produce Group 1 winning progeny, Sea The Stars embodies excellence in breeding.
Sea The Stars' pedigree
After dominating his generation with an unbeaten three-year-old season, combined with such an exemplary pedigree, it is no surprise to hear speculation that he could now command a six-figure sum when he goes to stud in the spring.
When it was announced that he would retire from the racecourse on October 13, owner Christopher Tsui had yet to confirm where Sea The Stars will stand, although bookmakers made the Irish National Stud their short-priced favourite.
The role of Tsui family should not be underestimated in this story. Based in Hong Kong, Christopher’s father is owner of Urban Sea while his mother opted to send the mare to Cape Cross after he sired super filly Ouija Board. Although new to the glamour of racehorse ownership, 28-year-old Christopher resisted the lure of racing his super colt one last time in America’s Breeders’ Cup at the end of October, demonstrating his ultimate concern in the horse’s welfare.
While Sea The Stars only raced nine times in two seasons, he will be expected to remain active at stud for upwards of 15 years. Although now 26, his grandsire Green Desert still stands at Nunnery Stud in Norfolk for a fee of £25,000.
Sea The Stars will leave John Oxx’s County Kildare yard later in the autumn, where he made an inauspicious start to his career at the Curragh in July 2008. Having finished fourth that day, in a maiden previously won by 2006’s unbeaten champion Teofilo and 2007 Derby winner New Approach, Sea The Stars won two races as a juvenile, including the Group 2 Beresford Stakes in September.
However, it was his 2,000 Guineas victory at Newmarket earlier this year that really drew Sea The Stars under the spotlight, initiating an unbeaten run of six Group 1 wins as he became the first horse to win the Guineas, Derby and Arc in the same year.
To watch Sea The Stars in motion was to understand the very essence of this sport, while his widespread popularity played testimony to the manner in which he was handled by his connections.
When it was announced that he would retire from the racecourse on October 13, owner Christopher Tsui had yet to confirm where Sea The Stars will stand, although bookmakers made the Irish National Stud their short-priced favourite.
