Sea the Stars
| Sea The Stars | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Sire | Cape Cross |
| Grandsire | Green Desert |
| Dam | Urban Sea |
| Damsire | Miswaki |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 2006 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Sunderland Holdings Ltd |
| Owner | Christopher Tsui |
| Trainer | John Oxx |
| Record | 9: 8-0-0 |
| Earnings | £4,416,708 |
| Major wins | |
|
Beresford Stakes (2008) British Classic Race wins: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (2009) |
|
| Awards | |
| European Champion 3-Y-O Colt (2009) European Horse of the Year (2009) AHT Duralock Racing Award (2009) ROA Champion 3-Y-O Colt (2009) ROA Horse of the Year (2009) HRI Horse of the Year (2009) ITBA Champion 3-Y-O Colt (2009) #1 - World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (2009) Timeform rating: 140 |
|
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
Sea The Stars (foaled 2006 in Ireland) is a champion Irish Thoroughbred colt racehorse. Regarded by many as one of the greatest racehorses of all time,[1] he is best known for winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, - the first colt to accomplish this treble since 1989 champion Nashwan - the International Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Bred by Sunderland Holdings Ltd, the breeding operation of the Tsui family, he is a half brother to Epsom Derby winner Galileo, both being sons of Arc winner Urban Sea.
Contents |
[edit] 2 Year Old Racing Career
Sea The Stars started his racing career at the Curragh in July 2008. Still very green and boxed in in the final furlong, he finished a close fourth behind subsequent US Grade 1 winner Driving Snow.
He won his second race easily at Leopardstown by 2½ lengths, taking the lead 2 furlongs out and never being threatened.
In the last race of his 2 year old campaign, Sea The Stars won the Group 2 2008 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh by ½ length from stablemate Mourayan and Ballydoyle's Masterofthehorse. This turned out to be his closest race.
[edit] 3 Year Old Racing Career
Sea The Stars would complete a perfect three year old campaign, winning six Group I races in six months, including two English Classic races and one French Classic race. His three year old record is described by many as the best of modern thoroughbred racing.[2]
2000 Guineas
Rested over the winter, John Oxx entered him into the 2009 2,000 Guineas without a prep race. Despite this, he started 8-1 in the betting behind the Craven Stakes winner Delegator (3/1f). There were concerns about his preparations because of a setback on 17 March due to a viral infection and a temperature. He rested for 2 weeks, which hampered his preparation for the Guineas. However John Oxx still wanted to give him his chance at a mile and a good workout the week prior to the race encouraged Oxx to declare him.
Travelling well throughout the race, he pulled clear of the field in the final furlong winning by one length from the favourite, with Gan Amhras ¾ of a length behind in third.[3] Michael Kinane, winning his fourth 2,000 Guineas, later commented: "He's a classy horse and we've waited for him all winter. He's been crying out for this ground."
Epsom Derby
Despite doubts about his stamina and a strong field, notably from Ballydoyle who fielded six of the twelve runners, Sea The Stars won the 2009 Epsom Derby beating the favourite Fame And Glory, and Masterofthehorse (making it a 1-2-3 to Ireland). Racing prominently behind the pacemakers, Sea The Stars traveled very well and slowly reeled in the leader from three furlongs out, taking the lead with 11⁄2 furlongs to go and keeping the lead all the way to the finish. Mick Kinane (winning his third derby two weeks shy of his 50th birthday) said of the winner "I was going so easy all the way, it was as if we were going in slow motion."[4]
Eclipse Stakes
Sea the Stars was scratched from the 2009 Irish Derby due to the track conditions,[5] but went on to win the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park a week later. Always travelling well, he overtook the fading pacemakers early down the straight, forcing Kinane to commit earlier than expected. Rip Van Winkle came with a strong challenge two furlongs out, but Sea The Stars fought him off with a surge of acceleration, winning readily by one and a half lengths, with 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit five lengths behind in third.[6]
International Stakes
In August 2009, Sea the Stars won the Juddmonte International Stakes at York. Scaring off most of the opposition, only four horses were left in the race, three of them from Ballydoyle. Mastercraftsman, winner of four Group I races including the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St. James's Palace Stakes at Ascot, was the main opposition with the two others acting as pacemakers. Tracking Mastercraftsman throughout the race, Kinane followed Johnny Murtagh through a narrowing gap created by the two pacemakers at the beginning of the straight. Sea The Stars powered past Mastercraftsman in the last furlong, taking the Group I race by a length, breaking the track record by 0.8 seconds in doing so.[7]
Irish Champion Stakes
Next was the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September 2009. His first appearance in front of his home crowd since 2008, the race was billed as a clash between Sea The Stars and Fame and Glory, who since finishing second in the Epsom Derby had won the Irish Derby by five lengths and been rested for two months. The race was highly anticipated as the rematch during the Irish Derby was postponed due to ground conditions. Turning into the straight, Johnny Murtagh on board of Fame and Glory took the initiative and got first run on Sea The Stars. A patient Kinane stayed on Murtagh's heels and with a powerful burst of speed went easily past Fame and Glory two furlongs out to win by two and a half lengths. Mastercraftsman, finished third another two and a half lengths behind Fame and Glory. After his win in the Irish Champion Stakes, Sea the Stars was awarded a 140 Timeform Rating.[8]
Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe
On October 4, 2009, six months since his win in the 2000 Guineas, Sea The Stars lined up as the odds-on favourite for Europe's most prestigious All-aged race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France. A large field of nineteen runners along with a long and difficult season were major concerns, many thinking this was one race too far. The race featured nine other Group I winners, including the unbeaten French filly Stacelita, the Yorkshire Oaks and Pretty Polly Stakes winner Dar Re Mi, the Irish Derby winner Fame and Glory, the 2008 St Leger Stakes, 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Conduit, the Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Vision d'Etat, the Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel winner Cavalryman and the 2 times Arc runner up Youmzain. Quickly out of the stalls, Sea The Stars pulled very hard for the first two furlongs, was bumped and dropped back down the field. Kinane was able to settle him and raced on in eighth and ninth position throughout the race. Turning into the straight, Sea The Stars stayed on the rail and seemed boxed in and in trouble. As the principals started to pick up Kinane was able to find a gap and challenged Stacelita alongside Dar Re Mi. Sea The Stars then produced a decisive turn of foot and went clear in a matter of strides. After going three lengths clear half a furlong out, he was eased down, winning by two lengths. He thus became the only horse to have won the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same year.[9]
Sea the Stars took all the available major awards across Europe, including Champion 3 Year Old and Horse of the Year at the Cartier Racing Awards, Champion 3 Year Old and Horse of the Year at the Racehorse Owners Association Awards and Horse of the Year at the Irish Horse Racing Awards.[10]
[edit] Stud career
His retirement was announced on 13 October 2009 by trainer John Oxx.[11][12]
On October 27, 2009, it was announced that Sea The Stars would stand at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland. The 2008 Prix De l'Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava was among the first mares booked to be covered by him.[13]
On March 6, 2010, it was announced that Sea The Stars had his first five mares checked in foal. Among those is Zarkasha of the unbeaten Zarkava. The other notable mares includes Bordighera - dam 2000 Guineas winner George Washington, the 2009 winner of the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-I) Alpine Rose, Centreofattention, a full sister to Irish Group 1 winner Holy Roman Emperor, and Seward’s Folly, the dam of Group 2 winner Sayif.
As of July 2010[update], Sea The Stars has covered 140 mares.
On January 23 2011, it was reported that two days previously his first foal had been born to the Australian horse Centreofattention at Castlebridge Stud in Ireland. The owner of Castlebridge Stud said "We are delighted to have had the first Sea the Stars foal born, he looks a smashing colt with plenty of size and scope."[14]
He currently stands for €85,000.
[edit] Pedigree
Sea The Stars is by the top class European Miler Cape Cross, winner of the Lockinge Stakes, Celebration Mile and Queen Anne Stakes in the UK. Since retiring to stud, he has sired the winners of 19 Group 1 races worldwide, including Ouija Board (winner of Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (twice) and Epsom Oaks). He currently stands at Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
Urban Sea, Sea the Stars' dam, was the winner of France's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. She is also one of the top broodmares of her generation. Sea The Stars is half brother to a number of stakes and group winners including: Galileo (1998 colt by Sadler's Wells), winner of Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and voted European Champion Three-Year-Old; Black Sam Bellamy (2000 colt by Sadler's Wells), winner of the Gran Premio del Jockey Club and Tattersalls Gold Cup; All Too Beautiful (2001 filly by Sadler's Wells), second in the Oaks; and, My Typhoon (2002 filly by Giant's Causeway), winner of Diana Handicap. Urban Sea is one of only two mares to ever produce two Epsom Derby winners, namely Galileo and Sea the Stars.
| Sire Cape Cross |
Green Desert | Danzig | Northern Dancer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pas De Nom | |||
| Foreign Courier | Sir Ivor | ||
| Courtly Dee | |||
| Park Appeal | Ahonoora | Lorenzaccio | |
| Helen Nichols | |||
| Balidaress | Balidar | ||
| Innocence | |||
| Dam Urban Sea |
Miswaki | Mr. Prospector | Raise a Native |
| Gold Digger | |||
| Hopespringseternal | Buckpasser | ||
| Rose Bower | |||
| Allegretta | Lombard | Agio | |
| Promised Lady | |||
| Anatevka | Espresso | ||
| Almyra |
[edit] References
- ^ "Sea The Stars 'an all-time great'". BBC Sport. 2009-10-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/8289990.stm. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Sea the Stars stands on brink of unique treble at the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe". telegraph.co.uk. 2009-10-05. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/6255532/Sea-the-Stars-stands-on-brink-of-unique-treble-at-the-Prix-de-LArc-de-Triomphe.html. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Sea a star in 2000 Guineas". RTÉ Sport. 2009-05-02. http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2009/0502/seathestars_2000guineas.html. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ "Classic double for Sea The Stars". BBC Sport. 2009-06-06. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/8086890.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ "Sea The Stars out of Irish Derby". RTÉ Sport. 2009-06-27. http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2009/0627/seathestars.html. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ "Sea The Stars seals historic win". BBC Sport. 2009-07-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/8134599.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ "Sea The Stars notches another win". RTÉ Sport. 2009-08-18. http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2009/0818/seathestars.html. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
- ^ "Stars soars to greatness". Irish Independent. 2009-09-06. http://www.independent.ie/sport/horse-racing/stars-soars-to-greatness-1879504.html. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ "Sea The Stars in historic Arc win". BBC Sport. 2009-10-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/8280646.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-04.
- ^ "Sea The Stars named Horse of the Year". RTÉ Sport. 2009-12-14. http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2009/1214/seathestars.html. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ^ "Oxx calls time as Sea The Stars retired". Irish Times. 2009-10-13. http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/other/2009/1013/1224256568480.html. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ "Oxx confirms Stars' retirement". RTÉ Sport. 2009-10-13. http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2009/1013/seathestars.html. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
- ^ Kelsey Riley (March 6, 2010). "Five Mares Confirmed in Foal to Sea The Stars". bloodhorse.com. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/55723/five-mares-confirmed-in-foal-to-sea-the-stars. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
- ^ Bloodstock World Staff (January 23, 2011). "First reported foal by Sea The Stars born in Ireland". racingpost.com. http://www.racingpost.com/news/bloodstock/gilltown-stud-first-foal-by-sea-the-stars-is-born-at-castlebridge/811120/. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- Sea The Stars race record on Racing Post website
- Sea The Stars 2000 Guineas report on BBC website
- 2009 Epsom Derby report on BBC website
- Sea The Stars Fan Site
- Sea The Stars Conformation Photo
- Cape Cross information on Kildangan Stud website
- Urban Sea at the Irish National Stud website (includes photo of Urban Sea and her 2005 foal, Sea's Legacy)
- Irish National Stud Stallion Brochure 2009 (includes photo of Urban Sea and her 2008 cover by Invincible Spirit)
