by Mike Curry
Sea The Stars cemented his legacy as one of racing’s true superstars by overcoming traffic trouble to defeat a world-class field convincingly under a hand ride by jockey Mick Kinane on Sunday in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) at Longchamp.
The Cape Cross (Ire) colt was rank early and trapped in traffic on the inside until the field entered the straight, but Sea The Stars demonstrated his class and superiority once Kinane angled him off the rail. Lengthening his stride willingly, Sea The Stars blew past previously unbeaten French classic winner Stacelita with a ground-devouring turn of foot and surged clear in the final 200 meters to secure his sixth Group 1 victory by open lengths in as many races this season for trainer John Oxx.
"They were going a nice pace and I knew I would need a bit of luck in the straight, no matter what happened, but I knew I had the pace to go anywhere I wanted,” Kinane said. “He's exceptional -- he’s just a phenomenal, rare horse."
Christopher Tsui’s dual English classic winner prevailed by two lengths, completing the 2,400-meter (11.93-furlong) trip in 2:26.30 on turf rated as good to firm. Sea The Stars’ Arc victory also wrapped up the Cartier Award for European Horse of the Year.
Sea The Stars was bred in Ireland by Sunderland Holdings. A half brother to European champion and leading sire Galileo (Ire), multiple Group 1 winner Black Sam Bellamy, and Grade 1 winner My Typhoon (Ire), Sea The Stars is one of seven stakes winners produced by 1993 CIGA Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) winner Urban Sea, by Miswaki.
After winning two of three starts as a juvenile, including the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Ire-G2), Sea The Stars put together a flawless three-year-old season that began with classic victories in the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-G1). The first three-year-old since Nashwan in 1989 to win the first two legs of the English Triple Crown carried that momentum through the summer and fall.
He posted clear victories in the Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1) in July, Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-G1) in August, and Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1) in September. A Group 1 winner in every month since May, Sea The Stars cemented his status in the Arc de Triomphe as the rare racehorse capable of delivering one peak performance after another at the highest level. He also locked up his place in the record books as the first horse ever to win the Two Thousand Guineas, Epsom Derby, and Arc de Triomphe.
“He did enough when he hit the front and he's a great, great horse to keep on winning. This horse has the gears and if a horse has speed and gears, he'll get himself out of trouble," Oxx said.
"He’s done a lot this year and we take it race by race with him. We will let the dust settle and now is not the time to make a decision about the Breeders’ Cup which is on November 7.
"We will see how the horse is and then decide. To have got as far as the Arc is a lot to be thankful for. I can’t see him staying in training next year, but we haven’t discussed it."
While the Arc was, perhaps, a crowning moment for the victor, Europe’s premier race also provided an example of the determination of runner-up Youmzain. On Sunday, the six-year-old by Sinndar finished second in the Arc for the third straight year.
Youmzain chased home champions Dylan Thomas (Ire) on 2007 and Zarkava in ’08, and he finished with a powerful bid in the straight to edge Cavalryman and 2008 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Conduit (Ire) in a blanket finish for second.
A Group 1 winner in Germany and France, Youmzain also has placed in Group 1 races in England, Ireland, and the United Arab Emirates for trainer Mick Channon and owner Jaber Abdullah.
Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-G1) winner Cavalryman nipped Conduit for third.
"The champion beat everyone again but we are delighted with his run,” Conduit’s trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, told England’s Press Association. “The Breeders' Cup [Turf] is on the agenda again, provided [Conduit] comes out okay."
Four-year-old filly Dar Re Mi rallied to finish fifth, followed by Irish classic winner Fame And Glory.
"She's run the race of her life and proved herself the best filly and mare in Europe,” John Gosden, trainer of Dar Re Mi, told England’s Press Association. "Sea The Stars is a champion of champions and it was great to be part of it all.”
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor