On July 21st 2018 Sea of Class landed the Irish Oaks at The Curragh by a neck, sadly just one year & one day later she passed away after suffering from a bout of Colic, aged just 4 years old. We will never know what she could have achieved this season but we can celebrate the time she spent on the race track, bringing joy to thousands of racing fans from around the world…
Sea of Class – Filly
Sire – Sea the Stars
Dam – Holy Moon
Dam’s Sire – Hernando
Trainer-William Haggas
Owner – Sunderland Holdings Incorporated
18th April 2018…. Sea of Class made her race course debut at Newmarket in a Class 4 Maiden over 1m, she finished runner up to Ceilidhs Dream. This is an extract from that days blog….
A month later Sea of Class returned to the track, when entered in a Class 1 Listed Fillies’ Trial at Newbury on May 19th.
She was stepping up to 1m 2f for the first time. And we were about to see, what would become the Sea of Class trademark finish…
Soon after the stalls opened James Doyle dropped the pair out the back for the first mile to settle Sea of Class. Around the 2f mark, the pair started making headway… Pushing closer and running on in the final furlong to go clear. She ran out a 2 length winner from Athena….
A return to Newbury was on the cards, so on June 14th, with Sea of Class entered in the Abingdon Stakes, Fillies’ Class 1 Listed race over 1m 2f. Sea of Class made it 2 wins from 3 runs landing the race by 2 lengths from Miss Sippy… Another blog extract…
The first 3 runs showed what Trainer William Haggas and the Owners had first though, that Sea of Class was a very good horse. They had entered her in the Irish Oaks and decided to take their chance, along with a step up in grade another step up in trip to 1m 4f….
July 21st 2018.. The Curragh… Irish Oaks… Fillies’ Group 1… 3YO Only…. 1m 4f…
As the race unfolded, James Doyle and Sea of Class sat still out the back, a bank of fillies’ in front of them… Time was running out.. Around the 2f pole James Doyle started their run. A run which, having timed his fractions to absolute perfection would see the pair snatch victory from Forever Together under the shadow of the winners pole…. Winning by a neck….. Simply the best ride of 2018! Cue another blog post!!
The next step was York & the Yorkshire Oaks in August…
York… August 23rd… Yorkshire Oaks… Fillies’ & Mares’ Group 1… 1m 4f…
Taking on some seasoned performers, Sea of Class just oozed confidence from the gate, Doyler & Class sat out the back waiting for the 2f mark and by the time they had past the 1f marker the pair were in the clear, storming to win the Yorkshire Oaks by 2 & 1/4 lengths from Coronet… Yep another blog post!
The big question remained, was Sea of Class going to Longchamp for the Arc & possibly taking on Enable, who was still to run due to an injury set back… She made her return at Kempton, winning the September Stakes… Connections & Trainer decided to go for it & on October 7th, 2018, they headed to Paris Longchamp…
With the draw being made prior to the race, Sea of Class had a difficult draw, in the carpark almost…. As we have become accustomed with that season, James Doyle & Class broke well, sat out the back but this time he had to get his fractions perfect… Coming to the home straight & Enable was about to set sail for home… James Doyle started weaving through the pack and with Enable in the clear had his target in his sight….. Closing, closing the line was coming faster than he thought & he narrowly failed to get past Enable on the line… Boy it was close…. How close?? A SHORT HEAD!
The pair were desperately unlucky not to cap a fantastic season with winning one of the most prestigious races in the world… Always next year!
Sea of Class made her seasonal & final appearance at a race course on June 19th at Ascot, when taking her place in the 1m 2f Group 1 Prince of Wales’ Stakes’…
Sea of Class as she had done all last season sat out the back, but this time she didn’t accelerate…. Finishing 5th to Crystal Ocean…
A couple of weeks later news broke that Sea of Class was suffering from a bout of Colic & fighting for her life… Sadly on July 22nd she passed away…
A horse of a lifetime….
Having brought so much joy to so many, I can safely say she was treasured by the stable hands, work riders, trainer & Family, owners and James Doyle, with whom I leave his tribute….
Tribute & Picture from James Doyle Twitter Account
Sea of Class – File – Irish Oaks with Permission
By Rich Williams
arseonlineracing 