DOUBLE-DIGIT margins of victory are rare in classics, but they do happen. Two undefeated colts lined up for the Group 1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg in 2014, one the winner of the Group 2 Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen-German 2000 Guineas, and the other a pattern scorer at 10 and 11 furlongs.

Although the former was the runner-up while finishing two and a half lengths clear of his closest pursuer and would go on to beat Noble Mission in a ten-furlong Group 1 contest next time out, few if any of that year’s three-year-olds could have troubled the winner. Sea The Moon took the lead in the early stages and was never headed, eased down to win his country’s premier classic by 11 lengths from Lucky Lion.

He had won his three prior runs by an aggregate of nine lengths, and his classic success shot him to the top of the ante-post market for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Group 1 Grosser Preis von Baden in early September, also on good ground, was to be his warm-up for Paris. He was clear of his rivals with under a quarter of a mile to go but, to the shock of many, Ivanhowe moved past and pulled away to win by three lengths.

The winner would go on to add three more Group 1 wins, two of them over 10 furlongs in Australia, but a carpal joint injury ended Sea The Moon’s career. Timeform rated him 127.

Sea The Moon is the most successful stallion son for the Timeform 140-rated Sea The Stars (Cape Cross), and given the levels of success he has enjoyed, it is incredible to think he is available for £25,000.

His first five crops have already yielded 26 stakes winners, 11 of them a pattern level, and 19 other blacktype earners, headed by the classic-placed wide-margin Group 1 Coronation Stakes heroine Alpine Star, and the Group 1 Caulfield Cup winner Durston, In 2022 he sired three new stakes-winning juveniles, and it is a matter of time before the next top-level scorer emerges,

Sea The Moon’s six-figure yearlings of 2022 included those that sold for 410,000gns, €350,000, €240,000, €200,000, and so on, providing rich rewards for breeders.

This son of a full-sister to three German Group 1 classic stars is most certainly making his mark.

RACE RECORD

SEA THE MOON (GER), Bay 2011. Champion 3yr old colt in Germany in 2014. Champion 3yr old in Europe in 2014 (11-13f.). Won four races, £437,439, from 1 mile to 1½ miles, at 2 and 3 years including, IDEE Deutsches Derby, Hamburg, Gr.1, Oppenheim Union-Rennen, Cologne, Gr.2, Fruhjahrs-Preis des Bankhauses Metzler, Frankfurt, Gr.3, also placed second in Longines Grosser Preis von Baden, Baden-Baden, Gr.1.

AT STUD

Retired to Stud in 2015, and sire of the winners of 391 races, and £8,947,573 and sire of the winners of 45 races, and £927,419 under N.H. Rules, including DURSTON (GB), ALPINE STAR (IRE), PRETTY TIGER (IRE), QUEST THE MOON (GER), WONDERFUL MOON (GER), FANTASTIC MOON (GER), FAVORITE MOON (GER), SAGAMIYRA (FR), PRIVILEGIADO (GB), HAMARIYNA (IRE), NOBLE MOON (GER), ALLADA (GB), ASSISTENT (GER), DE LA SOUL (GER), QUEBELLO (GER), SAMAHRAM (FR), SEA THE LADY (FR), MERCEDES (GER), MOON A LISA (GER), NOBLE MUSIC (GER), PADOVANA (FR), ALIGNAK (GB), PONDUS (GB), PRECIOSA (GER), TICKLE ME GREEN (GER), and ENJOY THE MOON (IRE)

INFORMATION

Stands at: Lanwades Stud, Moulton, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8QS, England.

Contact: Kirsten Rausing

Telephone: +44 1638 750222

Email: info@lanwades.com

Web: www.lanwades.com

Fee: £25,000