Monday 23 July 2018
The daughter of SEA THE STARS, SEA OF CLASS, put up a magnificent performance to lift the Irish Oaks, and in doing so became the ninth individual Group 1 winner for her sire, and his fourth Classic scorer.
The exciting filly was held up in last position for much of the Curragh contest, and when her jockey James Doyle asked for an effort, the reaction was immediate as he told the Racing Post, “When I gave her a little niggle at the top of the straight she took off.” Under hands and heels to the post, SEA OF CLASS scored cozily by a neck from Epsom Oaks winner Forever Together.
SEA OF CLASS possesses great potential and could even improve from this first Group 1 victory. Unraced at two, the filly impressed in two Listed successes prior to her Irish Classic date, and her trainer William Haggas has ambitious plans for his charge, with the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille as possibilities as well as a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe either this season or next, as she is likely to remain in training.
If SEA OF CLASS were to line up in the Arc, she would aim to follow in the footsteps of her sire SEA THE STARS, and his dam Urban Sea who both lifted the French blue riband in the colours of Mrs Tsui whose Sunderland Holding silks are also carried by SEA OF CLASS.
SEA OF CLASS was purchased for 170,000 Guineas by Johnny McKeever as a yearling at Tattersalls December Sale and the Razza del Velino-bred filly is the half-sister to three Italian Oaks winners, Cherry Collect, Final Score and Charity Line, out of Hernando mare Holy Moon. She is the fourth Classic winner for her Gilltown Stud sire SEA THE STARS, after Taghrooda, Sea The Moon and the Aga Khan Studs young stallion Harzand.
During the week-end Aga Khan Studs maternal lines also shone once again, thanks notably to Japanese visitor Geniale. The winner of the Gr. 3 Prix Messidor is by Deep Impact and is the first progeny of Sarafina (Refuse To Bend) whose hat-trick of top-level successes include the Prix de Diane. Still in France, Listed scorer Tornibush (Dream Ahead) who is owned by Antoine Griezmann and Ecurie Seyssel, is out of the Aga Khan Studs graduate Celenza (Dansili), from the family of Valixir, while in Ireland, Gr. 3 Anglesey Stakes victrix Marie’s Diamond (Footstepsinthesand) is a daughter of Sindiyma (Kalanisi) who is a close relative to Sinndar.
Updated on 23/07/2018.
