This week, the Daily Racing Form announced that Sea the Stars would retire to the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Ireland. Again, I am just posting the news report itself directly, as it tickled me a great deal. The Tsui family and His Highness speak so highly of each other and their horses. And His Highness wants his 7 wins in 7 starts filly, Zarkava, to have a breeding with Sea the Stars. They will produce an amazing foal! Let's hope that Success breeds Success! Namaste. In the photos, you see Sea the Stars and his royal intended.
The Tsui family announced Tuesday morning that Sea the Stars (Ire) (c, 3, Cape Cross {Ire}--Urban Sea, by Miswaki) will enter stud in 2010 at His Highness the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland. The bay colt was retired following his win in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Oct. 4; it was his sixth straight Group 1 win of 2009. Racing Post reports that his stud fee will be €85,000. "After considering options we have decided to stand Sea the Stars in Ireland at Gilltown Stud, with His Highness the Aga Khan," said Ling Tsui, whose son Christopher raced the bay colt. "Gilltown is an ideal stud for Sea The Stars to thrive and develop as a stallion, and there is no more appropriate place for him to stand than in his homeland and close to Currabeg where he was trained by John Oxx. His Highness was kind enough to let us stand Sea The Stars at Gilltown while keeping ownership of him and we are most grateful. The staff and facilities at Gilltown are top class and Sea The Stars will enjoy his stay there." His Highness the Aga Khan added, "Mrs. Tsui and Christopher's decision to entrust the future career at stud of Sea the Stars to Gilltown Stud farm brings to everyone at the Aga Khan Studs, as well as to me personally, the greatest happiness. We are all proud to have such a remarkable athlete join the Aga Khan stallions at stud, and we are convinced that the Aga Khan mares, who have produced outstanding racehorses during the last 50 years, will breed very well indeed to Sea the Stars. Mrs Tsui and Christopher's decision is certainly one of the most important developments for my operation since I inherited it in 1960. I am also most pleased that Mrs Tsui and Christopher will be developing their own breeding operation with the help of their magnificent horse, Sea the Stars. This horse could also help develop relations to bring Chinese investment into the European bloodstock market." He continued, "In keeping with the motto of the Aga Khan Studs "success breeds success" I look forward to the earliest opportunity to send my unbeaten champion Zarkava (Ire) to Sea the Stars. I believe the last two Arc winners were made for each other both in terms of ability, temperament and conformation. The best needs to be bred to the best."
