The Tsui family ended weeks of speculation Tuesday when they announced that
they are going to stand European superstar SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]), at
His Highness The Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in County Kildare, Ireland.
Now considered by many as one of the leading European runners of the past
half-century, Sea the Stars was produced by Urban Sea (Miswaki), who won the
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) in 1993. Sea The Stars was unbeaten this year
when he won all six of his starts, the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) at
Newmarket, the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), the Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) at Sandown, the
Juddmonte International (Eng-G1) at York, the Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) at
Leopardstown, and finally emulating his dam by easily winning the Prix de l’Arc
de Triomphe at Longchamp.
“After considering options we have decided to stand Sea The Stars in Ireland
at Gilltown Stud, with His Highness the Aga Khan,” said Ling Tsui, mother of
Christopher Tsui in whose colors Sea the Stars raced. “Gilltown is an ideal stud
for Sea the Stars to thrive and develop as a stallion and there is no more
appropriate place for him to stand than in his homeland and close to Currabeg
where he was trained by John Oxx. His Highness was kind enough to let us stand
Sea the Stars at Gilltown while keeping ownership of him and we are most
grateful. The staff and facilities at Gilltown are top class and Sea the Stars
will enjoy his stay there.”
“Mrs. Tsui and Christopher’s decision to entrust the future career at stud of
Sea the Stars to Gilltown Stud farm brings to everyone at the Aga Khan Studs, as
well as to me personally, the greatest happiness,” His Highness the Aga Khan
said. “We are all proud to have such a remarkable athlete join the Aga Khan
stallions at stud, and we are convinced that the Aga Khan mares, who have
produced outstanding racehorses during the last 50 years, will breed very well
indeed to Sea the Stars. Mrs. Tsui and Christopher’s decision is certainly one
of the most important developments for my operation since I inherited it in
1960.
“I am also most pleased that Mrs. Tsui and Christopher will be developing
their own breeding operation with the help of their magnificent horse, Sea the
Stars. This horse could also help develop relations to bring Chinese investment
into the European bloodstock market.
“In keeping with the motto of the Aga Khan Studs, ‘success breeds success,’ I
look forward to the earliest opportunity to send my unbeaten champion Zarkava (Zamindar)
to Sea the Stars. I believe the last two Arc winners were made for each other
both in terms of ability, temperament and conformation. The best needs to be
bred to the best.”