Johanna Walsh built on the promise of her Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) runner-up effort with classic glory in the Irish Oaks (G1) July 18 at the Curragh. She is the 26th individual group 1 or grade 1 winner for her sire, the brilliant Sea The Stars.
Appropriately, the exciting filly was bred by Sunderland Holding, the operation run by Sea The Stars' owner-breeders the Tsui family. A €460,000 (US$497,924) purchase by Cary Bloodstock from Goffs Orby Book 1 in 2024, the Wells Watson-owned filly is the fourth foal out of the placed Dawn Approach mare Miss Aiglonne, a half sister to Sea The Stars' Prix d'Ispahan (G1) scorer Mekhtaal.
A Joseph O'Brien-trained filly, Johanna Walsh is the second group 1 winner of the week for Sea The Stars, following on from Maltese Cross's fast-finishing score in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) at Longchamp July 14. She is also the third Irish Oaks winner for her sire, following Sea Of Class in 2018 and Star Catcher the next year.
The Gilltown Stud resident has long since established himself as a top-class sire of middle-distance and staying talent. He stood this season at a career-high fee of €300,000 (US$343,000), having thrown champions such as Baaeed, Stradivarius, and Crystal Ocean among many others.
Sea The Stars finished 2025 as the leading active Irish-based sire.
