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 | 5: 4-0-0 |
| Earnings | £1,021,237 |
| Major wins | |
| Beresford Stakes (2008) Eclipse Stakes (2009) British Classic Race wins: 2,000 Guineas (2009) Epsom Derby (2009) | |
| Awards | |
| Timeform rating: 124 | |
| Last updated on 21:54, Saturday May 25 2024 (UTC) | |
Sea The Stars (foaled 2006 in Ireland, Thoroughbred colt racehorse) is best known for winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the Eclipse Stakes - the first colt to accomplish this feat since 1989 champion Nashwan.
Bred by Sunderland Holdings Ltd, the breeding operation of the Tsui family, he is a a half brother to Epsom Derby winner Galileo and son of the Arc winner Urban Sea.
Racing career
After winning his maiden at the second attempt, Sea The Stars won the Group 2 2008 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh. 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 Delagator (3/1f).
Travelling well throughout the race, he pulled clear of the field in the final furlong winning by 1 length from the favourite, with Gan Amhras ¾ of a length behind in third.[1] 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."
Despite doubts about his stamina, Sea The Stars won the 2009 Epsom Derby beating the favourite Fame and Glory, and Masterofthehorse (making it a 1-2-3 to Ireland). Mick Kinane (winning his 3rd 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."[2]
Sea the Stars was scratched from the 2009 Irish Derby due to the track conditions,[3] but went on to win the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park a week later.[4]
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 the Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
Urban Sea, the dam of the Guineas winner, 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 stake and group winners including: Galileo (1999 colt by Sadler's Wells), winner of Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and the King George VI & 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 (2002 filly by Sadler's Wells), second in the Oaks; and, My Typhoon (2002 filly by Giant's Causeway), winner of Diana Handicap.
| 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 |
References
- ^ "Sea a star in 2000 Guineas". RTE Sport. 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ "Classic double for Sea The Stars". BBC Sport. 2009-06-06. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ "Sea The Stars out of Irish Derby". RTE Sport. 2009-06-27. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- ^ "Sea The Stars seals historic win". BBC Sport. 2009-07-04. Retrieved 2009-07-04.
- 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
- 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)