Report - Stud beckons for Sea The Stars Irish colt Sea The Stars, the winner of a unique treble in landing the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, has been retired. The three-year-old's trainer John Oxx said a decision had been made not to enter the horse in the Breeders' Cup meeting in the United States. Sea The Stars is likely to stand at stud, though Oxx gave no exact details. "I have no information on stud career details and an announcement will be made at a much later date," he said.  Sea The Stars en route to victory in his final race in France |
Some estimates have put his stud value at a possible £100m. The champion racehorse, sired by Cape Cross and owned by Hong Kong nightclub owner Christopher Tsui, had built up a devoted following after winning six Group One races every month from May until October under expert jockey Mick Kinane. Many racing fans, particularly those outside Europe, were keen to see him take on America's finest flat horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic, on the dirt track at Santa Anita, California, on 7 November. But Oxx said that, following discussions with Tsui, that would no longer be on the agenda. The trainer went on: "He's had a long season and has been in regular fast work from 3 March, with his final workout on 2 October. "He's been in intensive training for seven months with only a three-week break after the Eclipse Stakes at the beginning of July.  | 606: DEBATE |
"We feel it is unfair to keep him going any further given his unprecedented record of achievement in the last six months. "He's come out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in his usual good form. He is fit and healthy and has been cantering since the race but is now retiring from racing." Sea The Stars had lost just one of his nine races during his two years on the track - in which he amassed nearly £4.5million in prize money - and that was his racecourse debut at the Curragh where he finished a close-up fourth. He then won his maiden on unfavourably soft ground before landing the Grade Two Beresford Stakes, hinting at what was to come this year. | CORNELIUS LYSAGHT ON TWITTER Follow updates from BBC racing correspondent |
Sent off at 8-1 for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, he beat hot favourite Delegator by a length and a half and became the first horse since Nashwan 20 years ago to follow up in the Derby, where he beat Fame And Glory by a length and three-quarters. The Coral-Eclipse was next at Sandown where he beat subsequent Sussex Stakes and QEII winner Rip Van Winkle. The procession continued. At York in the Juddmonte International, he made it four Group Ones in a row and he followed up in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, again handing a beating to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Fame And Glory. But his crowning glory came at Longchamp when he landed Europe's premier middle-distance race, the Arc. For much of the race he gave Kinane plenty of headaches as took a pull on the reins and settled into his rhythm late only to find himself boxed in on the rail. But he overcame all those problems to carve a path through a high-class field, and was eased down as he passed the winning line. | If he had stayed in training there could be have been world tours. Horse racing would have had its very own Usain Bolt |
His performance sparked comparisons with legendary performers Dancing Brave, Mill Reef and Sea Bird. Racing pundit John McCririck commented: "It's very sad for several reasons and first of all for Christopher Tsui, who will never, ever again have a horse like this. "Whatever enjoyment he gets and whatever other horses he breeds, there will never be another Sea The Stars. "Obviously commercially this is the right decision as he could only harm his reputation, either by defeat or the possibility of injury. "Your head says yes, he definitely should be retired, but my goodness if he had stayed in training there could have been world tours. Horse racing would have had its very own Usain Bolt." And he speculated that Kinane, 50, might also retire. Meanwhile rival jockey Kieren Fallon, second to Sea The Stars aboard Youmzain in the Arc, said: "I would have loved to have seen him race in America and they were dying to see him over there too. "Santa Anita, for me, is the best place in the world for racing, they are so professional and the track is in magnificent shape." Video - Sea the Stars triumphs in Arc
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