The Tsui family ended weeks of speculation today when they announced that they are going to stand their great Champion, Sea The Stars, at HH The Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Co. Kildare, Ireland. Possibly the greatest racehorse of all time Sea The Stars is a sensational looking and regally bred son of Cape Cross out of Urban Sea, who won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1993. Sea The Stars was unbeaten this year when he won all his six Group 1 races, the 2000 Guineas in Newmarket, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, the Juddmonte International, the Irish Champion Stakes and finally emulating his dam by easily winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Ling Tsui, mother of Christopher Tsui in whose colours he raced, said “After considering options we have decided to stand Sea The Stars in Ireland at Gilltown Stud, with His Highness the Aga Khan. Gilltown is an ideal stud for Sea The Stars to thrive and develop as a stallion and there is no more appropriate place for him to stand than in his homeland and close to Currabeg where he was trained by John Oxx. His Highness was kind enough to let us stand Sea The Stars at Gilltown while keeping ownership of him and we are most grateful. The staff and facilities at Gilltown are top class and Sea The Stars will enjoy his stay there.”

His Highness the Aga Khan said: “Mrs Tsui and Christopher’s decision to entrust the future career at stud of Sea The Stars to Gilltown Stud farm brings to everyone at the Aga Khan Studs, as well as to me personally, the greatest happiness. We are all proud to have such a remarkable athlete join the Aga Khan stallions at stud, and we are convinced that the Aga Khan mares, who have produced outstanding racehorses during the last 50 years, will breed very well indeed to Sea The Stars. Mrs Tsui and Christopher’s decision is certainly one of the most important developments for my operation since I inherited it in 1960.

I am also most pleased that Mrs Tsui and Christopher will be developing their own breeding operation with the help of their magnificent horse, Sea The Stars. This horse could also help develop relations to bring Chinese investment into the European bloodstock market.

In keeping with the motto of the Aga Khan Studs “success breeds success” I look forward to the earliest opportunity to send my unbeaten champion Zarkava to Sea The Stars. I believe the last two Arc winners were made for each other both in terms of ability, temperament and conformation. The best needs to be bred to the best.”

Updated on 27/10/2009