Sea The Stars Enjoys a Day out in Both Hemispheres

Mark Smith - Sunday July 22

It's unlikely that the win of Serenade The Stars (IRE) in Saturday's Vale Jack Franklin Hcp (2500m) at Flemington will get him on the Sea The Stars honour roll although the victory of Sea Of Class in the Group 1 Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh most certainly will.

With James Doyle in the saddle, Sea Of Class came from last to nail the Epsom Oaks heroine Forever Together (Galileo) in the final few strides with Mary Tudor (Dawn Approach) a length and a quarter back in third. (photo Sporting Life).

Advertisement


It was another big race success in Ireland for trainer William Haggas who sent out the Foxwedge filly Urban Fox to win the Pretty Polly Stakes last month.

It was just the fourth trip to the races for Sea Of Class who debuted with a second at Newmarket on April 18 before two Listed stakes wins at Newbury.

Racing in the same colours as her sire, Sea Of Class was a 170,000 guineas purchase by the Ling Tsui's Sunderland Holdings at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale.

She becomes the fifth stakes winner out of the remarkable producer Holy Moon (Hernando) who has three winners of the Group II Oaks d'Italia, Charity Line (Manduro), Final Score (Dylan Thomas and Cherry Collect (Oratorio).

Charity Line and Final Score also captured the Group 1 Premio Lydia Tesio, while half-brother Back On Board (Nathaniel) was runner-up in last year's Group II Derby Italiano.

While Sea The Moon is likely to target the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe the goals for the Peter Gelagotis-trained Serenade The Stars are decidedly less ambitious.

"He profiles a bit like a nice Bagot Handicap horse but he's a young horse so we can hopefully take him through the grades and see where we end up," stable representative Gelagotis said after the OTI Racing import rolled to a two lengths win at Flemington. (photo Grant Courtney) .


"He's a thinker. He has put a couple of wobbly runs here and there but he's been a lot more genuine this preparation.

"There was good genuine tempo today and it was really good to see him relax and breathe and really be strong late."

Imported to Australia on the back of wins at Chelmsford and Kempton, Serenade The Star advanced his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds 1 third from 17 starts with earnings of $177,603.

He is a son of the lightly raced Bertolini mare Silent Serenade who is a half-sister to dual Group III winner Leporello (Danehill) and the Listed winners Poppy Carew (Danehill) and Calypso Grant (Danehill)

A half-brother to the immortal Galileo, Sea The Stars has sired nine Group 1 winners to date.


Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.