Category: 
John Oxx has made the right decision – and, even if you disagree, it doesn’t affect our customers as we’ve refunded bets on Sea The Stars to win the Breeders’ Cup!
Retiring Sea The Stars at the height of his powers with nothing to prove is the correct decision. Many will argue it’s the coward’s way out. Cynics will say, “oh, he doesn’t want to have a George Washington on his hands” or another Rock of Gibraltar. As has been Oxx’s approach throughout the season, the horse’s best interests have been to the fore. Accordingly, it was the trainer’s decision - not the owners - who decided against a trip to Santa Anita. Yes, it protects his stud value – the colt’s, not Mr Oxx’s - it isn’t the main reason. He has nothing to gain from the trip.
Perhaps prematurely, the experts waded in on the debate about the six-time group one winner’s greatness following his Arc win. Some have even assessed him on that victory in Longchamp alone. On ratings some cited the mighty Sea-Bird as the marker for all things brilliant - which is fair enough. On race-record, though, the Guineas, Derby and Arc treble had never been achieved. Racing aficionados, however, have missed the proverbial boat with punters on this great Champion and have been swallowed up by all their own hackneyed rhetoric – the good and the bad. Sea The Stars is, quite simply, a hero and history will award him the tag of legend. No one else.
The Cape Cross colt may not have captured the imagination of the public like jumping greats such as Desert Orchid or Istabraq, but he was certainly loved by those who appreciate his wonderful ability – even those who opposed him through their pockets. Walking tall after the Guineas victory, Stevie Wonder could see he was a champion in the making. The steely, determined three year old has spectacularly delivered on his early promise and beaten all comers.
Some argue he’s beaten nothing, but he can only defeat what’s put in front of him. Gauging equine brilliance seems to be based on the manner of victories as opposed to its merits. This is wrong. Barcelona outplaying Man Utd to win Champions League 2 - 0 is surely more impressive than a 6 – 2 victory over Real Madrid in La Liga? Isn’t it? Some even have the temerity to say STS doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Nijinsky, Shergar or Dancing Brave. He’s deserving of equal acclaim. He’s my Nijinsky. My Secretariat. His unique Triple Crown, I can assure you, will never be repeated.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
i cant belive it how could you be retiring a class horse like sea the stars he will be sadly missed
October 13th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
They are dodging Rip Van Winkle, thats all! Rip is finally over his foot problem, but STS is nowhere to be seen
October 13th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
well john oxx knows he got to get beaten sometime many be rip van winkle may be the horse to do it but no one will know now?
October 13th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
after a early season start and six group 1 wins each month after a row, its just a fact in flat racing you have to protect the hourse cridentials for the huge royalties. At least Mr OXX and the owner had the guts to go this far with the horse unlike the last arc winner. What really pisses me off is that horse best mate he was not one of the greats, they put him away for only 3 races a year and the wins a gold cup and when he was racing the oposition were poor
October 13th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
jack are you on drugs or what (JOHN O DONOGHUE DONE NOTHING WRONG)>
October 13th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Did Rip have a sore hoof in the 2000 Guineas, Jack - his supposed optimum trip? Nope. Rip Van Winkle wouldn’t polish Sea The Stars horseshoes. At a 1m, 1m 2f and 1m 4f he couldn’t touch him.
I do think he should have went to the States. Show the yanks how good he actually is, they seem to be oblivious to his achievements.
October 13th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
What do you mean Monty, should have beat him at Sandown before STS took his ground for a stride or two, and he wasn’t even right then. I can’t wait to hear the american commentators go Whoosh on Breeders Cup night
October 13th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Frank he had an interupted preparation for the 2,000, and not beaten that far after becoming all at sea in the dip
October 13th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Jack, Sea the Stars had a temperature a few weeks before the Guineas and had to stop work in his preparation. STS did not take Rip’s ground in the Eclipse, STS never moved to his left where Rip was , STS picked up when challenged …watch it, do some research on the sport of horse racing and then if you are still without a clue, kindly shut up. And I do hope Fame and Glory wins the Champion Stakes and Rip wins the Classic, As it will boost STS’s rating. Rip isn’t ‘finally over his foot problem’. He has soft feet so is prone to injuries of the foot which means it takes a lot of care to get him to the racecourse sound every time. Rip is class but has been beaten 3 times by the champion and nothing would have changed in Santa Anita. True Legend, Sea the Stars. Hopefully he stands at the Irish National Stud.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:45 am
You lads are a bunch of romanatics, look at it in the cold light of day and you’ll realise that STS isn’t the great that you think he is, a lucky horse maybe. His RP rating only brings him on a par with Daylami, and 1 ahead of Generous and Zilzal
October 14th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Jack, what more does the horse have to do. 6 group 1s in 6 months. Tons of the horses he has beaten along the way have gone on to win group 1s. It is the most rock solid racing performance in 50 years. You are the one making excuses as to why Rip got beaten but long after you’re gone the record will read STS 2 - 0 Rip. Rip is the lucky horse, lucky that they retired STS.
P.S. I heard that Magnier & Co paid Tsui off not to run in California so that Rip could have a shot a winning.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Nick,
It was actually 3-0 but who is counting
October 14th, 2009 at 10:41 am
My bad, completely forgot that they ran him in the Derby. Crazy stuff when you see how good he is over a mile.
I’d like to see Rip win the classic and if anything it will prove further how good STS is. Don’t rate FAG though, English champion has looked a poor race for a while and AOB has spotted that.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
they have made the right decision,still cant understand why this horse is not classed as one off the best with rating’s
October 14th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
sea the stars is going to be one of the best horses i am going to see but i still think there was more to come from him like next year i still think john oxx will bring him back for racing again to win some of the group 1s again cause theres still lots of money to be made off him money talks