Sea the Stars is another one of the top thoroughbred horses of the modern era that has been considered as one of the greatest of all-time. Foaled in 2006, Sea the Stars was trained by John Oxx. In nine career races, Sea the Stars ran to a record of 8-0-1 and the Irish-trained horse earned more than £4 million in just two years of racing.
The half-brother of Epsom Derby winner Galileo and the son of Urban Sea, Sea the Stars began his racing career in 2008. The two-year-old’s first race took place at Curragh, but the horse’s inexperience in races showed as he finished behind eventual winner Driving Snow. Despite the disappointing result in his first race, the stallion rebounded well with a win at Leopardstown. Sea the Stars finished two and a half furlongs ahead of his nearest competitor and began a streak that wouldn’t end until he was retired in 2009.
Sea the Stars’ final race of his rookie year saw the horse win the Beresford Stakes. He finished just ahead of stablemate Mourayan. The Beresford Stakes’ finish would prove to be the closest race Sea the Stars won as he did it by just half a length.
The stallion’s rookie season was just the tip of the iceberg of what Sea the Stars would achieve. In his three-year-old season, Sea the Stars won the 2000 Guineas to start the year. Although he didn’t experience a preparation race and suffered from an illness beforehand, Sea the Stars exceeded expectations. Sea the Stars next won the Epsom Derby, The Eclipse Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes and the International Stakes.
Oxx took Sea the Stars to France for his final race of the season. He started the Prix de l’Arc Triomphe as the odds on favourite. Despite the strong field, Sea the Stars won the race and became the only horse to win the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and the Prix de l’Arc Triomphe in the same season.