When it was announced the unbeaten three-year-old would be retired to stud, rumours were circulating that he would be sold to stand in Japan. Thankfully his owners the T'sui's were dedicated to keeping him in Ireland. It was then rumoured that he would stand at The Irish National Stud, where he was foaled and raised & also where his dam the legendary Urban Sea spent until her death in April 2009. It was later announced Sea The Stars would stand at The Aga Khan studs alongside proven Group 1 sires Dalakhani & Azamour. With a fee set at €85,000, 130 mares were booked to the impeccably bred six times Group 1 winner, among them were 90 Group 1 winners/producers.
(Photo from pedigree query blog)
Sea The Stars was always guaranteed to become a successful stallion. By leading miler Cape Cross, a son of the top class Green Desert. Sea The Stars was out of Arc winner Urban Sea. His half siblings included Dual derby winner & world leading sire Galileo, dual Group 1 winner & sire Black Sam Bellamy, Group 1 placed pair Melikah & All To Beautiful, Grade 1 winner My Typhoon & LR winning 2yo Born To Sea.
There was great anticipation when Sea The Stars first crop turned two-year-olds. With 117 registered with Weatherby's. These two-year-olds included some regally bred youngsters out of Group 1 winners such as Alpine Rose, Speciousa, Zarkava, Queens Logic, Finsceal Beo, & Vodka. Sea The Stars profile suggested he would not become a major sire of two-year-olds. He himself won two of his three starts at two including at Group 2 level. While many judges expected that he should sire some Group 1 class two-year-olds. His only stakes winner among his first two-year-olds was Group 3 winner My Titania. However he did get some unbeaten eye catching two-year-olds including Rip Roaring, Taghrooda & Sea The Moon. While it was a fair start for his first crop. Some judges had been dissapointed with Sea The Stars first two-year-olds. However better things were to come.
It was revealed that Sea The Stars received his lowest book of mares in 2011 which was his second season at stud receiving 87 mares, however his books increased rapidly in 2012 covering 150 mares and decreasing again in 2013 to 96 mares.
Sea The Stars progeny were always expected to be in demand in the sales ring. His average sales for his first crop of foals in 2011 was €324,085 with a median of €246,305. While he had two mares in foal to him averaging €492,500.
In 2012 his foal average decreased to €197,010 & the median to €230,000 however he only had three foals up for grabs at auction that year. He had five mares sell in foal to him for an average of €367,000 with a median of €480,000. His first yearlings averaged €248,767 with a median of €180,000. His top priced yearling was Edkhan who sold in Arqana for €1.200,000.
In 2013 he had sixteen foals sell at auction for an average of €186,375 & a median of €180,000. He had nine mares sell in foal for an average of €224,000 with a median of €170,000. While his second crop of yearlings stood at twenty-three sold for an average of €185,054 and a median of €116,144, a decrease from his first Yearling sales in 2012. His highest priced yearling in 2013 was Globalist who sold for 460,000gns at Tattersalls.
His first crop of three-year-olds however have brought Sea The Stars to be behind only the exceptional sire Galileo on the European sires of three-year-olds list. He is also the third leading sire in Europe in order of prize money behind only exceptional sires Galileo & Invincible Spirit. He is the sire of NINE individual Stakes Winners including three Group 1 winners. They are dual Group 1 winner Taghrooda, unbeaten German derby winner & Arc favourite Sea The Moon & Prix Alary winner Vazira. While his Group/Listed winners include Zarshana, Anipa, My Titania, Afternoon Sunlight, Sivoliere & All At Sea.
The exceptional year Sea the Stars has had with his first classic crop will insure that he will continue to be well supported from breeders. His early yearling sales this year already look to become some of his best with two yearlings in the top 10 at Arqana at prices of €700,000 & €600,000. He has thirty-five yearlings catalogued in the prestigious Tattersalls Book 1 yearling sale in October, while at Goffs Orby sale he has eight yearlings. The Aga Khan Studs have also announced that due to high demand for Europe's most exciting young stallion Sea The Stars will cover a limited book of mares to Southern Hemisphere time.
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