Injury Forces Sea The Moon's Retirement
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Sea The Moon, a stunning open lengths victor in the July 6 German Derby (Ger-I), has been retired from racing because of an injury.
The colt's connections hoped he could return from an injury he sustained in the German Derby and continue to race next season at age 4, but he recently sustained a similar injury that forced the end of his career.
"He is injured and we have taken the decision to retire him and will start looking for a suitable home for him as a stallion," Niko Lafrentz of owner/breeder Gestut Gorlsdorf told Racing Post.
"He is in Newmarket's Equine Hospital and my wife is over there with him. We won't have a complete diagnosis for a while, but it is clear that he will not be able to run again."
The colt from the first crop of Sea The Stars was ridden to an 11-length romp in the German Derby to keep his career record untarnished in four career starts, all won in front-running fashion by a combined 20 lengths, for trainer Markus Klug. But in his subsequent start—his first against elders—he finished second, three lengths behind Ivanhowe in the Sept. 7 Longines Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-I).
German-bred Sea The Moon is one of two winners from as many to start out of the Monsun mare Sanwa, a sister to German Derby winners Schiaparelli (2006) and Samum (2000) and 2002 German Oaks (Ger-I) winner Salve Regina. He is a half brother to German stakes-placed filly Sansiwa, by Dansili.