Sea The Stars, the impeccably-bred son of Darley stallion Cape Cross, produced a truly stunning performance to win the Derby at Epsom on 6 June, becoming the first horse since Nashwan to complete the Guineas/ Derby double.
Racing keenly early on, Sea the Stars was settled in a perfect position behind early pacesetters Golden Sword and Age Of Aquarius and travelled beautifully throughout the race. Given a superb ride by Mick Kinane, the John Oxx-trained colt was asked to quicken with just under two furlongs left to run and any questions regarding his stamina were soon cast aside as he quickened brilliantly to take lead and from then on, the result never looked in doubt. He eventually won the race by a length-and-three-quarters from favourite Fame And Glory, with Masterofthehorse a further neck back in third.
Trainer John Oxx said after the race that his charge could now drop back in distance to ten furlongs to take on his older rivals in the Juddmonte International at York and the Irish Champion Stakes, but did not rule out a tilt at the Irish Derby, due to take place at the Curragh on 28 June.
Bred by the Tsui family’s Sunderland Holdings Ltd and racing in the colours of Christopher Tsui, Sea The Stars is the fourth G1 winner out of Urban Sea who sadly died earlier this year. When winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, he became the second Classic winner for Cape Cross (following in the footsteps of Ouija Board) and his seventh winner at the highest level.
