Star’s speed was key says Oxx

The Cape Cross colt enjoyed an incredible season including victories in the 2000 Guineas, the Derby at Epsom and most recently the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but connections opted against letting him have one final foray in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

‘‘They have all been major races and every one was important in its own right,’’ Oxx said.

‘‘You win the Guineas and you win the Derby and the anxiety builds up as the year goes on, so every race brought tremendous relief when it was over.

‘‘The way he ran in the Derby was a joy to watch, the way he handled the track and came down the hill.

‘‘After that the horse developed a great public following and everyone quickly recognised they were watching something special.

‘‘His success was down to a combination of everything, but the main thing is his speed.

‘‘He has tremendous cruising speed. Ballydoyle and Aidan O’Brien tried their best to make it tough for him with pacemakers, but they could never get him off the bridle.

‘‘He can just travel off any pace totally at ease and then he can quicken up off it.

‘‘I suppose he’s got great heart and lungs, but he’s got this beautiful balance and lovely stride.

‘‘He’s a close-coupled horse in one way but very long in another and he has this tremendous athletic stride.

‘‘Then there is his temperament and it is courage and temperament that bring the good horses to a different level.’ The three-year-old lost just one of his nine races during his two years on the track – in which he amassed nearly £4.5million in prize money – and that was his racecourse debut at the Curragh.

He then won his maiden on unfavourably soft ground before landing the Grade Two Beresford Stakes, hinting at what was to come this year.

Sent off at 8-1 for the Guineas at Newmarket, he beat hot favourite Delegator by a length and a half and became the first horse since Nashwan 20 years ago to follow up in the Derby, where he beat Fame And Glory by a length and three-quarters.

The Eclipse was next at Sandown where he beat subsequent Sussex Stakes and QEII winner Rip Van Winkle, with St Leger and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Conduit way back in third.

At York in the Juddmonte International, he scared everyone bar O’Brien away to make it four Group Ones in a row and followed up in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, beating old rival Fame And Glory.

But his crowning glory came at Longchamp when he landed Europe’s premier middle- distance race, overcoming trouble in running and a highclass field to win eased-down in the Arc.

His performance sparked comparisons with the likes of Dancing Brave, Mill Reef and Sea Bird.

Although no definitive answer will ever be reached, one thing is for sure – it will be a long time before we see his like again.

Oxx added: ‘‘It has been decided after discussions with Mr Christopher Tsui (owner) that Sea The Stars will not take part in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on November 7.

‘‘He’s had a long season and has been in regular fast work from March 3, with his final workout on October 2. He’s been in intensive training for seven months with only a three-week break after the Eclipse Stakes at the beginning of July.

‘‘We feel it is unfair to keep him going any further given his unprecedented record of achievement in the last six months.

‘‘He’s come out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in his usual good form. He is fit and healthy and has been cantering since the race.

‘‘He is now retiring from racing, but I have no information on stud career details and an announcement will be made at a much later date when plans have been finalised.’’ Racing pundit John Mc- Cririck believes the news is a big blow for the sport but admits commercially it is the right decision for connections.

‘‘It’s very sad for several reasons and first of all for Christopher Tsui, who will never, ever again have a horse like this,’’ said McCririck.

‘‘Whatever enjoyment he gets and whatever other horses he breeds, there will never be another Sea The Stars.

‘‘Obviously commercially this is the right decision as he could only harm his reputation, by either defeat or the possibility of injury.

‘‘Your head says yes, he definitely should be retired, but my goodness, if he had stayed in training there could be have been world tours, virtually.

‘‘Everywhere he turned up crowds would have come just to see this phenomena and horse racing would have had its very own Usain Bolt.

‘‘He would have been an absolute star attraction and it would have been fantastic for the sport, so it’s very sad that commercial realism has taken over.

‘‘Racing has lost it’s greatest possible attraction and we talk about racing for change and bringing more people into the family of racing, well to do that you need these superstars.

‘‘Everybody loves horses like Kauto Star and Denman and of course they are fantastic, but they haven’t got that appeal that Sea The Stars would have had worldwide.

‘‘I think when Christopher Tsui looks back in the years to come with his children and his grandchildren, he’ll look back and say ’I just wish’.”

Kieren Fallon got closer to Sea The Stars than most have this season when second on Youmzain in the Arc, and he admitted to mixed feelings about his retirement.

‘‘I would have loved to have seen him race in America (Breeders’ Cup) and they were dying to see him over there too,’’ said Fallon.

‘‘Santa Anita, for me, is the best place in the world for racing, they are so professional and the track is in magnificent shape.

‘‘I don’t know if I’m riding in the race or not yet but if I was I wouldn’t want to see him in it!

‘‘But as a spectator it would have been something special.

Classic-winning trainer Michael Bell was a big fan of the colt and marked out his placid temperament as a key factor in his greatness.

‘‘It was Derby day that he stood out for me – he just looked head and shoulders above everything else,’’ said Bell.

‘‘He’s got the most serious engine and to perform like he did in the Arc after everything that had happened – he annihilated them.”