Urban Sea (USA)
February 18, 1989 – March 2, 2009
Miswaki (USA) x Allegretta (GB), by Lombard (GER)
Family 9-h
February 18, 1989 – March 2, 2009
Miswaki (USA) x Allegretta (GB), by Lombard (GER)
Family 9-h
Miswaki was a good sire and broodmare sire, but Urban Sea was by far his greatest accomplishment After winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) as a 4-year-old, she put the lie to those breeders who have held that good race mares do not make good producers by becoming one of the greatest broodmares of modern European history. While her legacy through her daughters is still unfolding, she has already secured a place in pedigrees for generations to come through her great sire son Galileo, who succeeded his sire Sadler's Wells as Europe's top stallion until his own death in July 2021, and she is also the dam of European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars, a good sire in his own right.
Race record
22 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,713, 548 (includes converted earnings from Canada, England, France, Germany and Japan)
1992:
1993:
1994:
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 117 pounds at 3 and 126 pounds at 4.
Rated at 111 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1992, 14 pounds below champion Flawlessly.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf horses of 1992, 10 pounds below highweighted Snurge (a 5-year-old male) and official divisional champion Rainbows for Life (a 4-year-old colt).
Highweighted at 11-14 furlongs among French older females of 1993
As an individual
A leggy, angular chestnut mare with short cannons, Urban Sea was unimpressive at her slower paces and had rather long pasterns. She was forced into retirement after injuring a fetlock midway through her 5-year-old season.
As a producer
The 2001 Broodmare of the Year in England and Ireland and the 2009 Irish Broodmare of the Year, Urban Sea produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Urban Sea was bred by Marystead Farm. She was owned by David Tsui, who purchased the filly from the 1990 Deauville yearling sale for 280,000 French francs. She was trained by Jean Lesbordes. She spent her broodmare career as the property of Tsui's Sunderland Holdings, with the Coolmore breeding entity Orpendale acquiring an interest in her after the birth of Melikah in 1997. Urban Sea died of complications of foaling on March 2, 2009; her Invincible Spirit colt (later named Born to Sea) was put on a nurse mare.
Pedigree notes
Urban Sea is inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah and 5x5 to 1931 Belgian Triple Crown winner Prince Rose, a horse up to the standard of the best European runners of his day. She is a half sister to 2000 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner King's Best (by Kingmambo) and to French Group 3 winer Allez Les Trois (by Riverman), dam of 2001 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Anabaa Blue (by Anabaa) and English listed stakes winners Reunite (by Kingmambo) and Measured Tempo (by Sadler's Wells); second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Tamayuz and Group 3 winners Aboulie, Half Light, and Impulsif; and third dam of Irish Group 2 winner Mustajeeb. Urban Sea is also a half sister to Anzille (by Plugged Nickle), dam of 2001 Deutchland-Preis (GER-G1) winner Anzillero (by Law Society), and to stakes-placed Turbaine (by Trempolino), dam of Group 3 winners Tertullian (by Miswaki) and Terek (by Irish River) and Irish listed stakes winner Tusculum (by Sadler's Wells), second dam of German Group 2 winner Tusked Wings, and third dam of multiple German Group 1 winner Torquator Tasso. In addition, Urban Sea is a half sister to Altruiste (by Diesis), dam of French Group 2 winner Terrubi (by Dalakhani) and French listed stakes winner Alpine Snow (by Verglas) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Armande, and to Saleela (by Nureyev), second dam of 2018 Belgian champion stayer Just Because, Irish Group 2 winner Cayenne Pepper, and South African Group 3 winner Just Cruised In.
Urban Sea and her siblings are out of Group 3-placed Allegretta (by two-time German Horse of the Year Lombard), a full sister to multiple German Group 2 winner Anno and German listed stakes winner Arionette (dam of multiple German stakes winner Andronikus, by Monsun) and to stakes-placed Alya, second dam of 2007 Deutches Derby (GER-G1) winner Adlerflug and German Group 2 winner Arrigo. Urban Sea is also a half sister to 1986 Grand Prix Prince Rose (BEL-G1) winner Anatas (by Priamos) and to Amethysta (by Gulf Pearl), dam of German Group 2 winner Apollonios (by Lombard) and second dam of 1992 The Thousand Guineas (AUS-G1) winner Azzurro.
Allegretta, in turn, is out of Anatevka (by 1961 Craven Stakes winner Espresso), a full sister to German Group 3 winner Antuco and German listed stakes winner Algarve and a half sister to multiple German stakes winner Aldebaran (by Mercutio) and to Alzyra (by Orsini II), dam of 1979 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G2) winner Alaria (by Kaiseradler) and second dam of German Group 2 winner All Top and Group 3 winners Antic Boy and Arc. The female line traces to Asterblute (by Pharis II), a first-rate filly who won the 1949 Deutches Derby and Preis der Diana.
Fun facts
Last updated: May 30, 2022
Race record
22 starts, 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,713, 548 (includes converted earnings from Canada, England, France, Germany and Japan)
1992:
- Won Prix de la Seine (FR-L, 2200mT, Longchamp)
- Won Piaget d'Or (FR-L)
- 2nd E. P. Taylor Stakes (CAN-G1, 10FT, Woodbine)
- 2nd Prix Minerve (FR-G3, 2400mT, Evry)
- 3rd Prix Vermeille Escada (FR-G1, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Arag-Preis (German One Thousand Guineas) (GER-G2, 1600mT, Dussedorf)
1993:
- Won CIGA Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Exbury (FR-G3, 2000mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won Prix Gontaut Biron (FR-G3, 2000mT, Deauville)
- Won Prix du Fonds European de l'Elevage (FR-L)
- 2nd Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG-G2, 10FT, Ascot)
1994:
- Won Prix d'Harcourt (FR-G2, 2000mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd Prix Ganay (FR-G1, 2100mT, Longchamp)
Assessments
Earned Timeform ratings of 117 pounds at 3 and 126 pounds at 4.
Rated at 111 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American turf females of 1992, 14 pounds below champion Flawlessly.
Rated at 117 pounds on the Canadian Free Handicap for turf horses of 1992, 10 pounds below highweighted Snurge (a 5-year-old male) and official divisional champion Rainbows for Life (a 4-year-old colt).
Highweighted at 11-14 furlongs among French older females of 1993
As an individual
A leggy, angular chestnut mare with short cannons, Urban Sea was unimpressive at her slower paces and had rather long pasterns. She was forced into retirement after injuring a fetlock midway through her 5-year-old season.
As a producer
The 2001 Broodmare of the Year in England and Ireland and the 2009 Irish Broodmare of the Year, Urban Sea produced 11 named foals, of which nine started and eight won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Urban Ocean (1996, by Bering) won the 1999 Gallinule Stakes (IRE-G3). He went to stud in Ireland, where he was the highweighted 3-year-old male of 1999 over 9.5 to 11 furlongs, but has not been a conspicuous success.
- Melikah (1997, by Lammtarra) won the listed Pretty Polly Stakes in 2000, was second in that year's Kildangan Stud Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) and was third in the Vodafone Oaks (ENG-G1). She is the dam of 2012 Grand Prix de Deauville (FR-G2) winner Masterstroke (by Monsun), 2016 Derby Trial Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Moonlight Magic (by Cape Cross), 2019 September Stakes (ENG-G3) winner Royal Line (by Dubawi), and listed English stakes winner Hidden Gold (by Shamardal; dam of English listed stakes winner Creative Flair, by Dubawi). She is also the second dam of 2011 UAE Derby (UAE-G2) and UAE Oaks (UAE-G3) winner Khawlah and of French Group 2 winner Vancouverite and is the third dam of multiple English Group 3 winner Masar.
- Galileo (1998, by Sadler's Wells) was Europe's champion 3-year-old male in 2001 after winning the Vodafone Derby (ENG-G1), Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (ENG-G1). Europe’s top stallion after the death of his sire until his own death in July 2021, he earned multiple sire championships in England, France, and Ireland, as well as ranking among the top 10 sires in Italy and South Africa. In addition, Galileo has earned broodmare sire championships in England, France, and Ireland, and has ranked among the top 10 broodmare sires in Australia, Germany, Italy, and North America.
- Black Sam Bellamy (1999, by Sadler's Wells) won the 2002 Gran Premio del Jockey Club (ITY-G1) and the 2003 Tattersalls Gold Cup (IRE-G1). Highweighted among Italian 3-year-old males of 2002 over 11 to 14 furlongs, he stood in Germany for five seasons (2004–2008) before relocating to England. He was euthanized in July 2018 due to congestive heart failure.
- All Too Beautiful (2001, by Sadler's Wells) won the 2005 Middleton Stakes (ENG-G3) and was Group 2-placed. She is the dam of 2011 Cheshire Oaks (ENG-L) winner Wonder of Wonders (by Kingmambo), who placed in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks that same year, and of Italian listed stakes winner Victory Song (by Dansili). She is also the second dam of 2020 W. S. Cox Plate (AUS-G1) winner Sir Dragonet.
- My Typhoon (2002, by Giant's Causeway) won six graded races including the 2007 Diana Stakes (USA-G1).
- Cherry Hinton (2004, by Green Desert) was Group 3-placed on the race course. She is the dam of 2014 Irish Oaks (IRE-G1) winner Bracelet (by Montjeu), 2018 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) winner Athena (by Camelot), 2011 Rockfel Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Wading (by Montjeu), and 2019 Snow Fairy Stakes (IRE-G3) winner Goddess (by Camelot). Cherry Hinton is also the second dam of English Group 2 winner Just Wonderful.
- Sea the Stars (2006, by Cape Cross) won 2009 European Horse of the Year honors after a campaign that included victories in the Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1), the Epsom Derby (ENG-G1) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1). He is at stud in Ireland and has done well, ranking multiple times among the top 10 sires in England, France, Germany, and Ireland.
- Born to Sea (2009, by Invincible Spirit) won the listed Blenheim Stakes in 2011 and was runner-up in the 2012 Irish Derby (IRE-G1). He entered stud in Ireland, moving to France in 2019.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Urban Sea was bred by Marystead Farm. She was owned by David Tsui, who purchased the filly from the 1990 Deauville yearling sale for 280,000 French francs. She was trained by Jean Lesbordes. She spent her broodmare career as the property of Tsui's Sunderland Holdings, with the Coolmore breeding entity Orpendale acquiring an interest in her after the birth of Melikah in 1997. Urban Sea died of complications of foaling on March 2, 2009; her Invincible Spirit colt (later named Born to Sea) was put on a nurse mare.
Pedigree notes
Urban Sea is inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah and 5x5 to 1931 Belgian Triple Crown winner Prince Rose, a horse up to the standard of the best European runners of his day. She is a half sister to 2000 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner King's Best (by Kingmambo) and to French Group 3 winer Allez Les Trois (by Riverman), dam of 2001 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner Anabaa Blue (by Anabaa) and English listed stakes winners Reunite (by Kingmambo) and Measured Tempo (by Sadler's Wells); second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Tamayuz and Group 3 winners Aboulie, Half Light, and Impulsif; and third dam of Irish Group 2 winner Mustajeeb. Urban Sea is also a half sister to Anzille (by Plugged Nickle), dam of 2001 Deutchland-Preis (GER-G1) winner Anzillero (by Law Society), and to stakes-placed Turbaine (by Trempolino), dam of Group 3 winners Tertullian (by Miswaki) and Terek (by Irish River) and Irish listed stakes winner Tusculum (by Sadler's Wells), second dam of German Group 2 winner Tusked Wings, and third dam of multiple German Group 1 winner Torquator Tasso. In addition, Urban Sea is a half sister to Altruiste (by Diesis), dam of French Group 2 winner Terrubi (by Dalakhani) and French listed stakes winner Alpine Snow (by Verglas) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Armande, and to Saleela (by Nureyev), second dam of 2018 Belgian champion stayer Just Because, Irish Group 2 winner Cayenne Pepper, and South African Group 3 winner Just Cruised In.
Urban Sea and her siblings are out of Group 3-placed Allegretta (by two-time German Horse of the Year Lombard), a full sister to multiple German Group 2 winner Anno and German listed stakes winner Arionette (dam of multiple German stakes winner Andronikus, by Monsun) and to stakes-placed Alya, second dam of 2007 Deutches Derby (GER-G1) winner Adlerflug and German Group 2 winner Arrigo. Urban Sea is also a half sister to 1986 Grand Prix Prince Rose (BEL-G1) winner Anatas (by Priamos) and to Amethysta (by Gulf Pearl), dam of German Group 2 winner Apollonios (by Lombard) and second dam of 1992 The Thousand Guineas (AUS-G1) winner Azzurro.
Allegretta, in turn, is out of Anatevka (by 1961 Craven Stakes winner Espresso), a full sister to German Group 3 winner Antuco and German listed stakes winner Algarve and a half sister to multiple German stakes winner Aldebaran (by Mercutio) and to Alzyra (by Orsini II), dam of 1979 Preis der Diana (German Oaks, GER-G2) winner Alaria (by Kaiseradler) and second dam of German Group 2 winner All Top and Group 3 winners Antic Boy and Arc. The female line traces to Asterblute (by Pharis II), a first-rate filly who won the 1949 Deutches Derby and Preis der Diana.
Fun facts
- Urban Sea is the first mare to have produced two winners of the Derby Stakes (ENG-G1) in the 21st century, and the first to produce two such winners since Windmill Girl threw 1969 winner Blakeney and 1973 winner Morston.
- Urban Sea is the second winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to have produced a winner of that race (Sea the Stars, 2009). The first was 1980 winner Detroit, who produced 1994 winner Carnegie.
- In 2010, Urban Sea was honored with a Special Achievement Award at the annual meeting of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.
- The Prix Urban Sea is a listed race over 2000 meters for fillies and mares aged 4 and up at Le Lion d'Angers.
Last updated: May 30, 2022