Why Sea The Stars Was Better Than Frankel
It's 14 years to the day that Frankel obliterated the field in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, one of the most impressive wins in his 14-race unbeaten career record, battering the UK betting sites in the process.
The debate over who the greatest racehorse of the modern era was - Frankel or Sea The Stars - continues to stir passionate arguments among racing fans.
While both horses were exceptional in their own right, there's a compelling case to be made that Sea The Stars deserves to sit at the very top of the pedestal.
The Ultimate Campaign of 2009
Sea The Stars' three-year-old season in 2009 is often hailed as the most complete and courageous campaign in modern flat racing.
Over just six months, he won six Group 1 races, each of them at a different distance and against high-quality opposition.
He began with the 2,000 Guineas, stepped up in trip for the Epsom Derby, and then won the Eclipse Stakes, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes, and finally, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe - arguably Europe's most prestigious race.
This achievement was even more remarkable because he won all six races in succession, on different ground conditions and tracks, and against seasoned older horses.
His ability to adapt, travel strongly, and then power clear under pressure was a testament to his versatility and racing intelligence.
Variety & Versatility
Unlike Frankel, who mostly campaigned at a mile before extending to 1m2f later in his career, Sea The Stars consistently stepped up in trip throughout his three-year-old season.
His ability to win at distances ranging from a mile to 1m4f - not to mention conquering classics, weight-for-age contests, and all-aged championships - demonstrates a level of versatility that Frankel never had to prove.
Sea The Stars also didn't dominate his races quite like Frankel did - but that was part of his brilliance.
His wins were smooth, calculated, and incredibly professional - hallmarks of a horse with the complete racing toolkit.
International Appeal & Arc Glory
One major box Sea The Stars ticked that Frankel never attempted was the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
After a tough season, many thought the Arc might come too soon, especially given the depth of the field that year.
But Sea The Stars settled beautifully, handled the French pace and undulating track, and quickened away with devastating ease.
Frankel, by contrast, never raced outside the UK and didn't attempt the Derby or the Arc.
While this was partly due to how he campaigned, it limits the breadth of his achievements when directly compared to Sea The Stars.
A Legacy of Class & Courage
In just nine starts, Sea The Stars captured the imagination of racing fans worldwide.
Undefeated as a three-year-old, he beat top-class fields repeatedly without ever looking fully extended. His temperament, tactical speed, and finishing kick made him the ultimate thoroughbred.
While Frankel may have had the higher official rating and more dominant performances, Sea The Stars had the greater body of work.
For range, courage, and the ability to conquer all before him, Sea The Stars was the more complete racehorse - perhaps the greatest of them all.
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