Sea the Stars

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry NEWMARKET, UK -- Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum rarely misses Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and when the ruler of Dubai is present at Park Paddocks it is a safe bet that he will make a major contribution to the top end of the market. This he did once more, buying the day's top lot for 3,700,000gns - the most expensive yearling sold anywhere in the world this year - as well as three of the five seven-figure lots of the session....

We have become accustomed to the prevalence of Urban Sea in today's pedigrees, chiefly through her high-flying sons Galileo and Sea The Stars. But another mare whose name pops up on the page of Sea The Stars as well as that of the recently deceased Wootton Bassett is Park Appeal, whose influence should not be underestimated. The daughter of Ahonoora features in the second and third generations respectively of those two stallions, who commanded the highest fees in Ireland in 2025 at €250,000 and €300,000. In the case of Sea...

Grade I winner Unquestionable has been sold to Rathbarry Stud and will stand his first season there in 2026, the stud announced on Saturday morning. Bred by Guillaume and Camille Vitse and their family, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero sold to Mandore International Agency on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing and MV Magnier for €340,000 out of the 2022 Arqana August Yearling Sale. The son of Strawberry Lace (Sea The Stars) debuted with a third in the Listed First Flyer Stakes and graduated by 4 1/4 lengths at...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features 3.7 million gns debuter Act Of Kindness. 4.45 Newmarket, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7fT ACT OF KINDNESS (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), the third-highest-priced yearling sold at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 bonanza at 3.7million gns, had been taken out of her intended debut at Sandown last month...

BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY - Gestüt Brümmerhof stole the show at the BBAG Yearling Sale for the second year running when Godolphin swooped in to land a Sea The Stars filly out of German 1,000 Guineas heroine Novemba (Gleneagles) for €750,000.  That sale represented continued support by Godolphin for the best stock that Germany has to offer given Anthony Stroud and his buying team bought Del Maro (Camelot) from Brummerhof for a record-breaking €850,000 here 12 months ago.  Bidding through BBAG boss Klaus Eulenberger, Godolphin held off the attention of Alex Elliott...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a full-brother to a modern-day great. 2.20 Ascot, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT RAAHEEB (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the day's big news, as the ninth foal out of Shadwell's elite broodmare Aghareed (Kingmambo) responsible so far for one of the best to grace the silks in...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a full-sister to a Group 1 winner. 5.55 Newmarket, Mdn, 2yo, f, 8fT RIBBON OF SEA (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a significant Godolphin runner for Charlie Appleby's stable on an intriguing "Newmarket Nights" card full of tantalising prospects, being a full-sister to the G1...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a son of Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita. 5.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 8fT CLARET (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is one of two Ballydoyle runners in this and the second-string, but as the sixth foal out of the Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita has much to commend him....

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a half-brother to G2 Blandford Stakes winner and G1 Irish Oaks second Cayenne Pepper. 5.25 Leopardstown, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 8fT MONTREAL (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is one of two Ballydoyle runners in this maiden won in 2022 by Tower Of London and the choice of...

The 2025 BBAG September Yearling Sale catalogue, featuring siblings to several Classic winners spread across Germany and Italy, is now online. Set for Friday, September 5 at 10 a.m., the sale has attracted 210 yearlings, with 51% of the catalogue either out of black-type mares or  full- or half-siblings to black-type horses. There are also 28 siblings to group winners ready to go under the hammer, while all yearlings are nominated for the 19 BBAG auction races. Some of the highlights from leading German stud farms and consignors include: lot...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a daughter of multiple Group 1 winner Wild Illusion (Dubawi). 2.55 Ascot, Mdn, £15,000, 3yo, f, 9f212yT SPIRITED STYLE (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is one of two newcomers for Godolphin in this fascinating affair and the Charlie Appleby-trained daughter of Dubawi's triple Group 1 heroine...

Any week which included the return of Kyprios (Ire) should be considered a good week indeed. Yes, this time of the year is really all about exciting maiden winners and Classic trials, but any horse who can stick around in the Flat pack for as long as Kyprios has done must be cherished.  Four members of the final crop of his sire Galileo (Ire) have entries in the Derby and/or Irish Derby, but otherwise we will be relying on his older runners, including last year's St Leger one-two Illinois (Ire)...