TDN RISING STARS

August 17, 2008 - LEOPARDSTOWN, Race , Mdn, EUR €20,000, 7f, 2.1500

Sea the Stars (Ire), c, 2, 2006 by Cape Cross (Ire)

1st Dam: Urban Sea (Hwt. Older Mare-Fr at 11-14f, G1SW-Fr, GSP-Eng, Ger & NA, $1,713,548), by Miswaki
2nd Dam: Allegretta (GB), by Lombard (Ger)
3rd Dam: Anatevka (Ger), by

Owner: Christopher Tsui
Breeder: Sunderland Holdings Ltd
Trainer: John Oxx

Sea the Stars, a half-brother to champion Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), ran fourth in the hot Curragh maiden won by Driving Snow (GB) on debut July 13, and rewarded the collective faith of the crowd with a smooth success in this second go. Rousted from the break to occupy a prominent early pitch in third, he slipstreamed Alyazwa (GB) (Selkirk) through the early fractions. Angled off the rail turning into the home straight, the 2-1 favorite took over with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and was pushed out in the closing stages to best Dark Humour (Ire) (Bahri) by an impressive 2 1/2 lengths. "He had smartened up over the past couple of weeks--he's a very well-tempered horse and sleepy at home, and he was good enough to overcome ground he didn't like today," trainer John Oxx said. "It was a lovely, easy win and, hopefully, he'll progress again. He's in the [Sept. 14] G1 National S. and the G2 Beresford S. a couple of weeks later at The Curragh--they will be quite a step up, but I think he might be able to make it. He's a Derby contender at this early stage, but he has to keep progressing--he's got a lot of good qualities going for him--temperament, looks and soundness." Sirgarfieldsobers (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the full-brother of last year's G1 Epsom Derby winner Authorized (Ire), was unable to recover from a tardy start and finished a geared-down 13th. In addition to Galileo (Ch. 3yo Colt-Eur, Hwt. 3yo Colt-Eng & Ire at 11-14f, Hwt. 3yo Colt-Ire at 9.5-11f, G1SW-Ire & MG1SW-Eng, $2,250,614), Sea the Stars is also a half to Urban Ocean (Fr) (Bering {GB}, Hwt. 3yo-Ire at 9.5-11f, GSW-Ire); Melikah (Ire) (Lammtarra, SW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ire, $127,600); Black Sam Bellamy (Ire) (Sadler's Wells, Hwt. 3yo-Ity at 11-14f, G1SW-Ity & Ire, G1SP-Ger, Fr & Eng, $719,717); All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler's Wells, SW & GSP-Ire, GSW & G1SP-Eng, $298,797); My Typhoon (Ire) (Giant's Causeway, GISW-US, $1,308,361); and Cherry Hinton (GB) (Green Desert, GSP-Ire).