Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Urban Sea "The Legacy of one of Racing Histories best ever broodmares"

When Urban Sea retired at the end of the flat season in 1994, no one could have foreseen the impact this mare would have on the European breeding industry. Urban Sea had a lot going for her when she did retire to stud. She proved herself an outstanding race mare when she captured the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, defeating fourteen Group 1 winners in the Autumn of 1993. Urban Sea was also placed in the Prince Of Wales stakes. She returned as a five-year-old being placed in the Group 1 Prix Ganey & Coronation cups, before her career was curtailed by an injury to her fetlock.

Urban Sea not only was an outstanding racemare, she also possessed an outstanding pedigree. Her dam was  Group 3 winner Allegretta. Urban Sea is a 1/2 sister to Group 1 2000G winner Kings Best, later a Group 1 sire and the Group 3 winner Alez les Trois, herself dam of Group 1 French derby winner Anabaa Blue. Alez les Trois is also the grand dam of Group 1 miler Tamayuz, who is currently standing at Shadwell's Derrinstown stud. Urban Sea's other 1/2 sisters include the stakes placed Turbaine, dam of Group 3 winners Tertullian and Terek. Another of Urban Sea's 1/2 sisters Anzille, is the dam of German Group 1 winner Anzillero.

Their dam Allegretta was from a very successful stakes winning family. Her full siblings include German Group 2 winner Alya, champion German 3yo colt Anno, who was a dual Group 2 winner and the Listed winner Arionnette, later dam of Listed winner Andronikus. While her 1/2 siblings include multiple Group winner and Group 1 placed colt Anatas. The next dam was the stakes winning Anatevka, a sister to stakes winners Antuco & Algarve.

Urban Sea's produce record is as follows:

Name:  Urban Ocean (Bering) 
YOB:  1996:  
Race Record: Gallinule stks Group 3, Mooresbridge stks LR
Stud Record:  sire of a handful of 80+ rated horses, now a jumps sire at Kilbarry Lodge stud (IRE)

Name:   Melikah (Lammtarra)
YOB:  1997
Race Record:  LR Pretty Polly stakes, 2nd Group 1 Irish Oaks, 3rd Group 1 Epsom Oaks
Produce Record:   2002 B.F Vallrica (Selkirk), dam of Gr3/Gr2 winner Khawlah 
                               2003 CH.C Lunar Landscape (Giants Causeway), placed in maidens in Dubai
                               2006 B.C  Valedictory (Dubai Destination), winner 
                               2007 B.C Burj Nahar (Shamardal), twice winner 
                               2008 B.C Chief Of Staff (Pivotal), winner at 2 in France
                               2009 B.C Masterstroke (Monsun), Gr wnr, 3rd in Gr1 Arc de Triomphe, sire in France
                               2010 B.G Urban Dance (Street Cry), 2yo mdn & H'cap winner 
                               2011 B.F Hidden Gold (Shamardal), dual winner in UK in 2014
                               2013 B.C Unamed (Cape Cross), 3/4 brother to champion Sea The Stars
                               2014 B.C Unamed (Dubawi)

Name:  Galileo (Sadlers Wells)
YOB:  1998
Race Record:  Champion EU 3yo, dual derby & King George winner
Stud Record:  Multiple champion sire of over 40 Gr1 winners inc Frankel (GB), leading sire of sires


Name:  Black Sam Bellamy (Sadlers Wells)
YOB: 1999
Race Record:  Dual Gr1 winner inc. Tatts Gold Cup & Gran premio del jockey club
Stud Record: sire of Gr1 wnr Earl Of Tinsdel & seven 100+ rated horses, stands at Shade Oak Stud (UK)


Name: Atticus (Sadlers Wells)
YOB: 2000
Race Record: Unraced
Stud Record:  Unknown


Name: All To Beautiful (Sadlers Wells)
YOB: 2001
Race Record: LR & Gr3 wnr, 2nd in the Gr1 Epsom oaks
Produce Record:  2007 B.F All For Glory (Giants Causeway), Unraced 
                              2008 B.F Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo), LR wnr, dual Gr1 Oaks placed 
                              2009 B.F Along (Smart Strike), ran three times in Ireland
                              2010 B.C Victory Song (Dansili), won mdn race as a 3yo in 2010
                              2011 B.F Sparrow (Oasis Dream), 2yo mdn wnr, Gr3 pl in 2014
                               

Name: My Typhoon (Giants Causeway), 1.800,000gns foal
YOB: 2002
Race Record: Grade 1 Diana stks wnr, also multiple Graded winner
Produce Record:  2009 B.G He's A Cyclone (Smart Strike), winner in USA
                              2010 CH.C Endorphins Fly (Distorted Humor), ran a few times in USA
                              2012 B.F Tsunami of Love (Bernardini), 2yo unraced-to-date 
                              2014 B.C Unamed (Tapit)


Name: Cherry Hinton (Green Desert)
YOB: 2004
Race Record: Gr3 Blue Wind stks placed
Produce Record: 2009 B.F Wading (Montjeu), 2yo Gr2 wnr, foaled a colt by War Front in 2014 in USA
                              2010 B.C Lake Michigan (Montjeu), unraced, jumps sire at Park House Stud (IRE)
                              2011 B.F Bracelet (Montjeu), dual Gr wnr in 2014 inc Gr2 Ribblesdale stks 
                              2012 B.F Simply A Star (Giants Causeway), stakes placed 2yo in 2014
                              2013 B.C Unamed (Fastnet Rock)
                              

Name: Sea's Legacy (Green Desert)
YOB: 2005
Race Record:  unraced 
Stud Career:  standing first season in France in 2014


Name: Sea The Stars (Cape Cross)
YOB: 2006
Race Record:  2yo Gr2 wnr, world champion 3yo inc 2000G/Derby/Arc de Triomphe
Stud Record: Two classic winners in first crop 3yo's in 2014, Europe's hottest young sire


Name: Born To Sea (Invincible Spirit)
YOB: 2009
Race Record:  2yo LR debut wnr, placed in the Gr1 Irish Derby
Stud Record: First crop are foals in 2014, standing at Rathaskar stud (IRE)
                              
                                
Urban Sea has lived up to her family's outstanding success. Not only is she the dam of two high class stallions, her daughters are also following in her trend. Sadly Urban Sea died after foaling Born To Sea but thanks to the success of her progeny, her name will live on through generations of Group 1 winners. This years Epsom derby festival was a memorable one for Urban Sea, with both her derby winning sons Galileo & Sea The Stars siring both classic winners. Taghrhooda ( Sea The Stars) was a three length winner of the Oaks. While Australia (Galileo) was as equally impressive in the derby, he later followed up in the Irish equivalent. While Taghrhooda is a hot favourite to win this weekends Irish Oaks.  As the famous saying goes success runs in the family. 


(Urban Sea & Group producing broodmare Cherry Hinton as a foal in 2004)


No comments:

Post a Comment