Down Memory Lane – Sea The Stars

Good morning all,

Well there seems to be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Germany's first race meeting, since the end of its lockdown, took place last week and France is due to begin restart racing today. This gives us some hope that there will be a resumption of British racing in the next few weeks. Well we can hope. Until then I will continue with my trip down memory lane.

This week I'm going to look back on the career of Sea The Stars who blazed the racing world like a fiery comet in 2009.

Sea The Stars was foaled in 2006 at his owner's stud. The son of Cape Cross and a half-brother to Galileo was bred to win a Classic.

Sent into training with John Oxx. The colt made a promising racecourse debut at the Curragh when 4th to a future US Grade 1 winner.

An easy win at Leopardstown followed before the colt ended his season with a narrow but decisive success in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes.

However, the best was yet to come!

Three-year-old Career

A viral infection in March meant that Sea The Stars was sent to the English 2000 Guineas without a prep race. Sent off 8/1 but looking the pick of the paddock. Any doubts about his fitness for such a tough seasonal reapperance were put to bed, as the colt showed a great turn of foot to power away from his rivals.

You can watch the race here.

Guineas & Derby Double

His impressive success in the first colts classic inevitably led to him becoming ante-post favourite for the Derby. Trainer doubts as to whether the Derby distance would suit his colt, given the speed he had shown at Newmarket, were reflected in the betting as the Aiden O'Brien trained colt Fame And Glory was sent off favourite on the day.

Although keen in the early stages of the race, Sea The Stars was travelling well behind the leaders. Taking the lead halfway up the straight he stayed on to strongly to beat Fame And Glory to become the first horse since Nashwan to complete the Guineas/Derby double.

You can see his Derby win here.

Coral Eclipse

Soft ground at the Curragh meant the colt didn't take his place in the Irish Derby and he was rerouted to Sandown to take on the older generation in the Coral Eclipse.

A frantic early pace meant Sea The Stars took the lead off the pacemakers early in the straight. Kinane had to commit the colt earlier than he would have liked with his main rival Rip Van Winkle poised to challenge. Sea The Stars had to dig deep but he accelerated well inside the final furlong to hold off Rip Van Winkle by one & half lengths.

Relive his Eclipse win here.

International Stakes Success

Next stop was York's International Stakes. Facing just four rivals, three from the Aiden O'Brien stable, including Irish 2000 Guineas and St James Palace winner Mastercraftsman.

Kinane tracked Mastercraftsman and went for a run between the tiring pacemakers in the straight. Still pulling double at the two furlong mark he was asked for his effort and powered clear of his nearest market rival inside the final furlong to win by a length, in a course record time.

Watch the York race here

On Irish Soil

Sea The Stars next race would be on home soil in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Rain before the race threatened the his participation, but Oxx decided to let the colt take his chance on officially good to yielding going.

O'Brien once again saddled Mastercraftsman and also added Fame And Glory who had easily won the Irish Derby on his previous start.

Coming into the straight Fame And Glory was sent for home but, Kinane had Sea The Stars in a perfect position behind the leader. When he asked the colt for his effort he produced his trademark turn of foot to comfortably beat Fame And Glory by 2 1/2 lengths with Mastercraftsman back in third. It was a devastating display.

Watch the race here.

Into Racing History

Despite a long and tough season, Sea The Stars was set for one more race in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Facing eighteen rivals, including nine Group 1 winners the colt was quickly away. However, Kinane initially struggled to settle his mount and had to drop him back into the pack to get some cover.

Turning into the straight, Kinane kept Sea The Stars on the rail. It looked virtually an impossible task three out. However, the gap came and Kinane went for it. In a matter of strides the colt produced a withering turn of foot to go past his rivals to win by an eased down two lengths at the line.

His place in history was assured. As he became the first horse to win the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the same year.

You can watch the race here.

The Complete Racehorse

We never got to see colt as a 4-year-old as he was retired after the Arc to take up stallion duties at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland.

The colt has been a tremendous success at stud having produced: Taghrooda, winner of the 2014 Oaks and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Epsom & Irish Derby winner Harzand (2016). Gold Cup winner Stradivarius and last seasons Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner Crystal Ocean.

Sea the Stars was arguably the most complete racehorse of all time possessing every component for the perfect thoroughbred – speed, stamina, temperament and confirmation. He would hit the front with spectacular acceleration combined with an almost effortless ease, always just doing enough to win his race.

A superb racehorse, its just a pity we never got to see him race for another season.

Until next week.

John Burke is the tipster behind the long standing Victor Value service you can join himhere – https://victorvalue.uk