今年葉森打呲(Epsom Derby)的錦標上，勾畫出Arthur Budgett立於他所培育，擁有及訓練的一對同母打呲得主，Blakeney(1969年) 及 Morston(1973年) 的中間。簡直是對今屆冠軍，小崔(Christopher Tsui)一家自行培育的Sea The Stars(暫譯：「海都巨星」)最貼切的形容。牠與牠的半兄，01年的得主，「天文學家」(Galileo) 已與此看齊。

不幸地，牠們的母親「海都市」(Urban Sea)，於今年三月在愛爾蘭 National Stud 誕下了一匹父系「志氣高」(Invincible Spirit)的雄馬後死亡。但「海都市」留給崔家，以至整個育馬業一個無可限量的傳奇。

「海都巨星」是繼「天文學家」，「海盜王子」(Black Sam Bellamy)及史上於拍賣會售出最貴的未滿週歲雌馬，2002年由Live Oak Stud以一百八十萬堅尼購入，父系為「巨人長堤」(Giant’s Causeway)的「心中颱風」(My Typhoon)後，第四匹母系出自「海都市」的國際一級賽冠軍，另外兩匹同母雌馬，「魅力駒」(Melikah)及All Too Beautiful，亦分別在2000年葉森橡樹(Epsom Oak)季軍及2004年葉森橡樹亞軍。

當「天文學家」有如牠的父系「鞍匠井」(Sadler’s Wells)成為皇者的時候，令人對「海都巨星」的配種前景有無限的期望，雖然以香港為基地，年僅27歲的小崔仍享受此匹佳駟為他所帶來勝出打呲的喜悅。

小崔說：“任何文字皆不能形容勝出打呲的感受。這是動人的勝利及級數的表現。特別珍貴的是，在近四十年來，只有「尼真斯基」(Nijinsky) 及「那時還」 (Nashwan) 能包辦這口堅尼打呲孖寶。對我家來說，這是神奇的時刻，因為「海都巨星」延續了「海都市」的傳奇。”

崔家與「海都市」的歷史可追溯至1990年，當時小崔的父親，崔寶榮先生以二十八萬法郎的價錢，在多維爾八月拍賣會(Deauville August Sale)中購入了這匹當時是週歲馬的Miswaki馬女，並交予李思博(Jean Lesbordes)訓練，「海都市」繼後勝出了八場賽事，包括了1993年凱旋門大賽(Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe)－一場令小崔留下了深刻印象的賽事。

“週末時我在李思博的牧場學騎馬，而我首次見到「海都市」時，牠就是在All Along(「海都市」前對上一匹勝出凱旋門大賽的雌馬)的馬格內，家母寧願留在幕後，而我就到場觀戰” 小崔道。

“我與「海都市」一同成長，對於可以擁有牠，簡直是不可思議。牠文靜，脾氣良好而又勇敢爭勝。家母認為「海都市」是女神，就正如中國古代帝王常言道“得良馬者得天下”’。

本身為中國探月工程總設計師孫家棟任顧問的崔太(Mrs Ling Tsui)，就是「海都市」配種生涯的推動者。當時崔家擁有約四十匹牝馬，大多在法國。但崔太選擇送「海都市」到愛爾蘭配種，一是相信牠的能力，二是希望與愛爾蘭最好的種馬交配。

當時，在現已去世的 Brian Grassick 指導及鼓勵下，崔家將質素較普通的牝馬賣出，在「海都市」去世的時候，他們的配種牝馬只有五匹，以方便管理。當中包括 Sassenach 及 Epping, 分別曾誕下三級賽冠軍 Dress Rehearsal 及 英國聖烈治(St Leger)亞軍 The Last Drop，兩駒的父系都是「天文學家」。

崔太說：“質素是配種的座右銘，Brian Grassick 鼓勵我賣走所有質素較中庸的牝馬，而在愛爾蘭購入幾匹不錯的雌馬。” 現時替崔家作顧問的還有愛爾蘭 National Stud 行政總裁 John Clarke (譯註：他同時是崔家的賽事經理) 及該牧場的配種經理 Julie Lynch。

如果可以的話，崔太盡可能會選血統上有Allegretta(譯註：「海都市」的母系)的父線與旗下牝馬交配。例如「皇中王」(King’s Best)及「天文學家」等。否則，崔太會以她的 “感覺、眼觀以及馬匹型格上的協調”，而不是紙上資料及統計數字來決定父系誰屬。

「海都市」在愛爾蘭 National Stud 過了八年，在此段期間，崔家一直用電郵與 John Clarke 定期聯絡。對崔太來說，這些溝通往來可謂無價。

“如果沒有 John Clarke 及 Brian Grassick 對我家出色的協助，這是根本不可能在香港居住而又可以在愛爾蘭育馬。”崔太道。

根據崔太所說，他們曾就「十字灣角」(Cape Cross) 與「海都市」配種這問題上進行反覆的討論。「十字灣角」本身的首季配種費是五萬歐元。而牠首批子嗣包括了2004年葉森橡樹冠軍「占卜」(Ouija Board)。

“Michael Youngs 建議家母將「海都市」與「望族」(Montjeu)交配，但她鍾情予「占卜」，希望可以擁有一匹由「十字灣角」配出來的雌馬。”

“家母反覆審視過「十字灣角」的賽事影片，覺得牠有很強的速度及變速能力。但 John Clarke 認為誕下雌馬的機會只有一半。Brian Grassick 更警告「十字灣角」是一匹一哩馬，因此家母未必可以從牠身上找到一匹哩半馬。”小崔說。

“但是，我仍記得家母曾對我說過，「海都市」曾在哩半的好地及軟地勝出，她曾有想過讓牠出戰墨爾本盃(Melbourne Cup)。因此家母相信這組合不但會有「海都市」的長力及氣量，而且還有「十字灣角」的速度，這結果就是「海都巨星」。”

Julie Lynch 仍清楚記得「海都巨星」年幼的情景 “牠是一匹令人很震撼的幼馬，無論身型，氣度及力量全皆恰到好處。「海都市」在懷孕九個月時的體型已變得很龐大，原來「海都巨星」初生時體重已有 142 磅，比同時期的幼馬重20磅有多。

“我們所有人都對「海都市」在今年年初離世表示震驚。牠本身就是一個活生生的傳奇，我們可以和牠在一起，實在是一種光榮。”

雖然「海都市」當時已差不多二十歲，但四方八面對「海都巨星」的收購提議不斷送到崔宅。但他們不為所動，因此「海都巨星」成為自三級賽得主Urban Ocean後，首匹配上了崔家綵衣的「海都市」子嗣。

現時崔家只有兩匹現役馬，另一匹是由羅仕達(Jeremy Noseda)訓練，與The Last Drop (譯註：06年聖烈治亞軍) 同母的兩歲馬，名為Nebula Storm。但他們對賽馬方面的參與，相信隨着小崔在倫敦卡斯商學院(Cass Business School)工商管理碩士畢業，加入崔家的家族生意－酒店及房地產後而日漸增長。另外，小崔亦擁有職業高爾夫協會球手資格(PGA golf tour player qualification)。

崔太說“過去我們會買些週歲馬交予岳斯及Michael Grassick訓練，當中只會留下最好的作配種用。但現在兒子回歸，我們會擴充配種方面的業務。”

小崔接着說“由於香港與愛爾蘭的時差關係，家母要清晨四時起床致電予John Clarke或岳斯聯絡。如我可以幫助家母分擔部份工作，她會更樂意擴充配種方面的業務以支持「海都巨星」。”

現時已有很多有關「海都巨星」的退役配種地點的預測，但現在崔家將重點放在牠的賽事生涯上，包括是否會在四歲繼續出賽仍留待日後分解。

小崔說：“總有一天我們會談到此事，但現時我們仍未計劃得這麼遠；牠兩歲時勝出貝爾斯福錦標(Beresford Stakes)，三歲初至今牠仍是不敗之身，這是偉大的成就。牠是真真正正與眾不同。”

“「海都市」的競賽生涯為我家帶來喜樂，雖然家母對育馬業無什經驗可言，但她認定了「海都市」是世上最好的牝馬，她對了。”小崔以此作結。

http://images.racingpost.com/2009/Jun/7744.jpg(題目乃譯者所加)【世界名马传奇】转载" />
三個月大的「海都巨星」(照片來源：愛爾蘭 National Stud)

http://images.racingpost.com/2009/Jun/7514-sea-the-stars.jpg(題目乃譯者所加)【世界名马传奇】转载" />
勝出葉森打呲時的「海都巨星」(右，黃綵衣，Edward Whitaker攝)


URL: http://www.racingpost.com/news/b ... ea-lives-on/203641/
原作者：Nancy Sexton
日期： 15 JUN 2009

How legend of 'goddess' Urban Sea lives on

THE trophy for this year's Derby, which depicted Arthur Budgett standing with his Derby-winning half-brothers Blakeney and Morston, could not have been more apt after Christopher Tsui's homebred Sea The Stars strode away with the Epsom showpiece to emulate his half-brother, the 2001 winner Galileo.

Sadly, their dam Urban Sea died in March after foaling an Invincible Spirit colt at the Irish National Stud but she leaves behind an incredible legacy, not just for the Tsui family but for the whole breeding industry.

Sea The Stars is the fourth winner at the top level out of the mare following Galileo, Black Sam Bellamy, and My Typhoon, a daughter of Giant's Causeway who became the most expensive filly foal eversold when falling for 1.8m gns to Live Oak Stud in 2002. Another two fillies, Melikah and All Too Beautiful, came close to Classic glory when finishing third and second in the 2000 and 2004 Oaks.

With Galileo since mirroring his own sire Sadler's Wells as champion, appeal for Sea The Stars as a stud prospect is immense. Yet the Hong Kong-based Tsui is content to enjoy the moment and the talent of a horse who presented him with a Derby victory at the young age of 27.

"Words cannot describe how winning the Derby felt," he says. "It was a magnificent win, a performance of sheer class and the fact that the only horses in the past40 years to achieve the Guineas/Derby double were Nijinsky and Nashwan makes it even more special. It was a magical moment for us because Urban Sea's legend is carrying on through Sea The Stars."

The Tsui family's association with Urban Sea stretches back to 1990 when Christopher's father, Hong Kong businessman David, purchased the daughter of Miswaki following her Fr280,000 sale as a yearling at the Deauville August Sale. Sent to Jean Lesbordes, she went on to capture eight races headed by the 1993 Arc, an event which unsurprisingly left a deep impression on the young Tsui.

"I learnt how to ride at Jean Lesbordes' yard during the weekends and I first met Urban Sea in her boxwhich had formerly been All Along's. As my mother preferred to work behind the scenes, I was the one who attended all the races," he says.

"I grew up with Urban Sea and it was unbelievable to own her. She was very quiet, good tempered, brave and determined to win. My mother considered Urban Sea a goddess; as all the Chinese Emperors used to say ‘when you get a good horse, you get the country.'"

It was Christopher's mother, Mrs Ling Tsui, now adviser to Professor Sun Jia Dong, Minister of China Aerospatiale, who was the driving force behind Urban Sea's stud career. At that time, the family owned a broodmare band of 40, mostly in France, but the decision was taken to send Urban Sea to Irelandas Mrs Tsui "believed so much in her and wanted to cover her by the best Irish stallions."

Under the guidance of the late Brian Grassick, the Tsuis were encouraged to sell their lesser mares, and by the time of Urban Sea's death, had reduced their numbers to a manageable five. Among the current band are Sassenach and Epping, the dams of Grade 3 winner Dress Rehearsal and St Leger runner-up The Last Drop, both of whom are by Galileo.

"Quality is the motto of breeding and Brian encouraged me to sell all my middle quality mares and to buy a few nice fillies from Ireland," says Mrs Tsui, who is currently advised among others by Irish National Stud chief executive John Clarke and the stud's stallion nominations manager Julie Lynch.

When able, Mrs Tsui aims to use stallions containing the blood of Allegretta, such as King's Best as well as Galileo. Otherwise, final decisions are made by using her "feelings and eyes and the physical compatibility rather than statistics and papers."

Urban Sea spent eight years at the Irish National Stud, during which time the Tsuis were kept up to date with her movements via regular emails from Clarke, which proved invaluable as Mrs Tsui explains:

"I think for someone who lives in Hong Kong it is impossible to breed horses in Ireland without someone like John or Brian Grassick. Brian was a tremendous help to my family."

According to Tsui, plenty of discussion took place regarding Urban Sea's mating to Sea The Star's sire Cape Cross, who was then standing his first season at €50,000 following a first crop of three-year-olds which included 2004 Oaks winner Ouija Board.

"Michael Youngs had advised my mother to cover Urban Sea with Montjeu but she had fallen in love with Ouija Board and wished to have a filly by Cape Cross out of the mare.

"My mother had reviewed the races of Cape Cross and believed he had a lovely change of gear and a lot of speed. John told her that the chance to get a filly was fifty-fifty while Brian warned her that Cape Cross was a miler and that my mother may not get a Derby horse by him.

"However, I remember my mother told me that Urban Sea could win from 1m to 1m4f on soft ground and good ground, and that she had even been once engaged in the Melbourne Cup. So she was sure that the resulting produce would have the stamina of his mother and the speed of his father. The result was Sea The Stars."

Lynch remembers Sea The Stars well as a foal, saying: "He was a smashing foal, all quality with great size, scope and strength. Urban Sea was huge in the third trimester of her pregnancy and no wonder as he weighed in at 142 lbs, well over 20lbs more than your average foal.

"Everybody was devastated at her death earlier this yer. Urban Sea was a living legend and we are proud to have been associated with her."

Naturally, the Tsuis received plenty of interest in the colt, but with Urban Sea nearing 20-years-old, they resisted all offers. Thus the colt became the first of the mare's progeny to carry the family's silks since her first foal, the Group 3 winner Urban Ocean.

The family has only one other horse in training - a two-year-old brother to The Last Drop named Nebula Storm with Jeremy Noseda - but they hope that their racecourse presence will increase following Tsui's entry into the family business of hotels and real estate after receiving a MBA from the Cass Business School in London. He also owns a PGA golf tour player qualification.

"In the past, we bought some yearlings to be trained by John Oxx and Michael Grassick and only kept the best ones one for breeding," says Mrs Tsui. "But now with Christopher's return, we will certainly extend our breeding operation."

Tsui continues: "My mother is extremely busy and because of the time difference between Hong Kong and Ireland she must wake up at 4am to speak to John Clarke or Mr. Oxx. If I can take over part of her job, she will be more than happy to increase our breeding operation to support Sea The Stars."

Speculation is rife as to where Sea The Stars will retire to stud but for now, the Tsuis remain focused on his racing career; whether that includes a four-year-old season will be discussed at a later date.

"We will take it one day at a time and won't plan that far ahead yet," says Tsui. "He won the Beresford Stakes as a two-year-old and is now unbeaten at three - a huge achievement. He is truly exceptional.

"Urban Sea's racing career brought our family joy, and although my mother had no experience in the breeding business, she believed that Urban Sea could be the best mare in the world. She was right."

[ 本帖最後由 快蝦碌 於 25/6/2009 19:00 編輯 ]