Vodka has been added to the first book of mares being covered by world-class colt Sea The Stars.  The champion Japanese mare was retired after an unplaced run in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan last Thursday.

Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) stands at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Ireland at a fee of 85,000 euros (AUD 127,460) and mares already tested in foal to him include Zarkasha, Bordighera, Alpine Rose and Australian bred Centreofattention.

Zarkasha (Kahyasi) is the dam of wonder filly Zarkava who signed off racing with a memorable victory in the 2008 Arc de Triomphe.  Sea The Stars retired after his Arc triumph last year and the Aga Khan has confirmed he will also cover Zarkava who delivered a filly by Dalakhani earlier this month.

Bordighera (Alysheba) is another confirmed in foal.  The USA bred mare is the dam of G1 winners George Washington (Danehill) and Grandera (Grand Lodge).

Alpine Rose (Linamix) was a G1 winner of the 2009 Prix Jean Romanet and Centreofattention (Danehill) is a sister to Coolmore Stud’s G1 sire Holy Roman Emperor.

Vodka (Tanino Gimlet) won 10 of her 26 starts and banked US$13.14 million.  She would have surpassed T M Opera O (US$16.20 million) as the all-time leading earner had she won the Dubai World Cup.

Vodka was named Japan’s Champion 2yo Filly in 2006 and the following year became the first filly in 64 years to win the Japan Derby.  She retained her brilliant form at four winning the G1 Tenno Sho and Yasuda Kinen before finishing third in the Japan Cup en route to becoming crowned Horse of the Year.

In 2009, she won the Group 1 Victoria Mile and a second Yasuda Kinen before a career-defining victory in the Japan Cup that cemented a second Horse of the Year award.