Just over a week after his magnificent triumph in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, trainer John Oxx has announced Sea The Stars has been retired.  The news ends speculation about a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on
November 7.

No decision on where Sea The Stars will enter stud next season has been made although the destination has been narrowed down to Kildangan Stud, Plantation Stud or the Irish National Stud where he was born.

He is by Darley sire Cape Cross out of 1993 Arc winner Urban Sea and had been the subject of several bids by Sheikh Mohammed during his unbeaten winning streak this year.  

“He’s had a long season and has been in regular fast work from March,” Oxx stated in a statement on Tuesday.  “He’s been in intensive training for seven months with only a three-week break after the Eclipse Stakes at the beginning of July.

“He’s come out of the Arc de Triomphe in his usual good form but we feel it is unfair to keep him going any further, given his unprecedented record of achievement in the last six months.

John Clarke, racing manager for his owner Christopher Tsui, said a decision on the stud and service fee will be announced around a week from now.