Sea The Stars Retires From Horse Racing
Career History of the Winner of the 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Oct 18, 2009
Sea The Stars only had 9 race starts, but won all but the first one. His 2009 campaign began in May and consisted of 6 starts, over distances between 1600 and 2400 metres, each on a different track at monthly intervals, all at Group 1 level, across three countries.
The bay colts final race was the Prix de l’Arc de Triumphe at Longchamp in early October 2009 and elevated his Timeform rating to 140. This means he is the most highly rated flat racing thoroughbred in the world. Since 1970 only three other horses have received the Timeform rating of 140. They were Shergar, Dancing Brave and Dubai Millenium (born in 1978, 1983 and 1996 respectively) and they are all now deceased.
Sea The Stars Pedigree
Sea The Stars was foaled on 6 April 2006 from the mare Urban Sea. His sire was Cape Cross, Darley’s former shuttle horse, who was from Green Desert out of Park Appeal and whose pedigree includes Northern Dancer and Sir Ivor.
Urban Sea was from Miswaki out of the mare Allegretta with good American lines on her sires side including Mr Prospector, and European lineage on her dams side. A quality mare, she won the Arc in 1993. As a broodmare she proved invaluable, producing several winners including Galileo who won Derbies at Epsom and The Curragh. She died while foaling at the Irish National Stud in early March 2009.
Sea The Stars Career Record
Sea The Stars raced 9 times for 8 wins, and won total earnings of £4,417,163.
- 4th, Jebel Ali Maiden, The Curragh, July 13, 2008.
- 1st, Korean Racing Authority European Breeders' Fund Maiden, Leopardstown, Aug 17, 2008.
- 1st, Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Group 2), The Curragh, Sept 28, 2008.
- 1st, Stanjames.com 2000 Guineas (Group 1), Newmarket, May 2, 2009.
- 1st, Investec Derby (Group 1), Epsom, June 6, 2009.
- 1st, Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Group 1), Sandown, July 4, 2009.
- 1st, Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1), York, Aug 18, 2009.
- 1st, Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1), Leopardstown, Sept 5, 2009.
- 1st, Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Group 1), Longchamp, Oct 4, 2009.
The Trainer, Jockey and Owner of Sea The Stars
Sea The Stars was trained in Ireland by John Oxx who had previously trained a dual Epsom Derby/Arc winner with Sinndar in 2000. Veteran jockey Mick Kinane partnered the colt in each of his 9 races and regards him as the best horse he has ever ridden. Kinane was 50 when he won the 2009 Arc. He has had many big wins on many top horses, including Galileo who was a half-brother to Sea the Stars.
The Hong Kong-based Tsui family bred the colt and he is owned by 27 year-old nightclub proprietor Christopher Tsui. Their mare Urban Sea has produced top horses for them, including Galileo which they sold their interests in before he began racing. Sea The Stars has become a very popular horse and his value is estimated as being anywhere between £40 and £100 million.
Sea The Stars at Stud
In recent weeks there has been mounting speculation about where Sea The Stars will stand at stud. The owners have always hinted that it will be somewhere in Ireland. Kildangan Stud, Plantation Stud and the Irish National Stud were all in contention, with many favouring the Irish National Stud where he was foaled. However on 27 October 2009 it was announced that he will stand at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. The fee for his first season will be €85,000 and he will cover approximately 120 mares, including unbeaten 2008 Arc winner Zarkava who is currently in foal to Dalakhani.
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