A Rival for Gallileo?
Urban Sea is the only mare to be the dam of two Epsom Derby winners – Gallileo (Urban Sea X Sadler’s Wells) and Sea the Stars (Urban Sea X Cape Cross).
Gallileo, who triumphed at Epsom in 2001 and also won the Irish Derby and the ‘King George’, has now established himself as a world class sire and stands at Coolmore with 11 Group 1 winners including Classic winners such as Soldier Of Fortune (Irish Derby-Gr.1), Sixties Icon (St Leger), Nightime (1000 Guineas) and New Approach (Derby-Gr.1) to his credit.
But the Irish Bloodstock industry got the best possible news when it was announced recently that Sea the Stars will now also stand in Ireland at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Kilcullen. This is the horse of whom John Oxx is quoted as describing as being “…perfect, the perfect racing machine. He is the point to which thoroughbred breeding, after 300 years, has arrived.” In 2009 alone, as a three year old, Sea the Stars came first in the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, Coral Eclipse Stakes, the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Tattersalls Millions Irish, and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
It will be fascinating to see over the next few years if he can match Gallileo’s record for siring further Group One winners…
Those two are nearly as good as Darkie and Molly!
