Well it's offical, Sea the Stars is only not coming to next month's Breeder's Cup, but has been retired. It's a bit of a bittersweet time, on one hand you say that he's had a hard campagin and deserves a rest to come back next year. Although you risk injuring him and as a son of the late Urban Sea, he's too valuable at stud. So while I'm not suprised by the decideson of not seeing him here in the US, it's disapointing that his career is going to end early.
You have to wonder what he would have done here, yes Arc winners have not had that great of success in the Breeder's Cup as of recent times. Dylan Thomas, Hurricane Run and Bago all ran up track in their respective Breeder's Cup Turf races. Now granted Hurricane Run and Bago ran the year after they won Europe's big race. Shakee however was second in the 2001 Classic by a nose (beaten by the defending champion Tiznow), All Along and Trempolino where second in the Turf in the 80's. Also rans do better in the BC as well, a perfect example is my favorite European filly Ouija Board, with two BC F/M Turf wins and 1 second (and that was in her "off" year which was inbetween the two wins, and when she was injured for a good portion of the year). Since he's not coming Sea the Stars becomes the 3rd Arc winner to skip the BC Turf/Classic in four years. Rail Link and Zarkava, who where both three when they won where retired soon afterwards.
This could turn out to be one of the worst Breeder's Cups ever, no Sea the Stars and no Rachel Alexandra. The two most accomplished and well known horses in the world, and they are both only 3! Which is a shame as viewing could have been very high. Sigh at least we still have Zenyatta going in either the Distaff or Classic.
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