Mares in foal to Sea The Stars create a sensation at US and European sales.

After the success of mares in foal to Sea The Stars in America, where the Gilltown Stud stallion was leading first crop covering sire with an average of $975,000, his future foals met with an enthusiastic reception at European auctions.

At Tattersalls’ December Mares Sale, Soinlovewithyou topped the opening session at Newmarket, and raised the third top price of the sale, stopping just short of the 1 million mark at 950,000 guineas. The Highclere Stud consignee is beautifully-bred, being a winning Sadler’s Wells half-sister to champion Duke Of Marmalade. She was snapped up by Hugo Lascelles Bloodstock and Lascelles confirmed that the mare was to be shipped to America for a Kentucky-based owner/breeder.

The following day, dual Italian Gr 3 winner Exhibit One (Silver Hawk) sold for 425,000 guineas to vet Dr Fumihiko Kawajima and will give birth to her Sea The Stars foal at Japan’s Northern Farm. Australian-bred Silent Heir, by Sunday Silence and out of a half-sister to New Approach, is already dam of juvenile Gr 3 winner Young Pretender. Now expecting to Sea the Stars, she raised a bid of 320,000 guineas from Tim Stakemire.

Sea The Stars’ worldwide appeal had already been demonstrated in Ireland where Blas Ceoil (Mr Greeley), in foal to the Arc hero, headed Goffs’ November Breeding Stock Sale at 300,000 Euros. Presented by Jim Bolger’s Redmonstown Stud, the young broodmare is half-sister to six black-type performers and gave birth to her first foal this spring. Winner of two races, Blas Ceoil was acquired by De Burgh Equine on behalf of an Australian client and the mare is now set to travel to the Southern Hemisphere.

Sea The Stars understandably proved popular in France where he recorded the biggest of his Gr 1 victories in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Just one mare expecting his foal was offered in Arqana’s December Breeding Stock Sale and Première Création (Green Tune) created quite a stir before being knocked down for 360,000 Euros. The hammer fell to Tom Ryan on behalf of SF Bloodstock, a relatively new bloodstock operation which now possesses around 50 broodmares including some very classy dams of the likes of Canford Cliffs and Mastercraftsman. Gr 1 third Première Création has already produced two Group winners.

By Cape Cross and out of the superb race-and-broodmare Urban Sea, Sea The Stars covered a stellar book of mares in his first season at stud. Standouts include champion fillies Zarkava and Vodka as well as numerous Classic winners.

Updated on 09/12/2010.