GRECIAN SEA (FR)

1978-1998 ch m Homeric - Sea Venture (Diatome)

She was not the greatest filly ever to sport the pale blue and yellow silks shared by Lord Weinstock, his son Simon and father-in-law Sir Michael Sobell, but Grecian Sea could scarcely have made a greater contribution to the trio's breeding operation.

Despite her death in 1998, the mare's legacy has been felt more keenly than ever after two of her grandchildren made a big impression at Royal Ascot this season.

Mont Etoile was a cosy winner of the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes, while Sir Michael Stoute has big hopes for Mountain High, out of Grecian Sea's outstanding broodmare daughter Hellenic, after a head defeat in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes.

A good match

A Saint-Cloud maiden winner for trainer John Cunnington as a two-year-old in 1980, Grecian Sea was not disgraced when - having been switched to Dick Hern the following season - she finished a close 10th of 14 to Fairy Footsteps in the 1000 Guineas.

Her first foal, New Trojan (by the Sobell/Weinstock 1979 Derby hero Troy), was trained by Hern to finish second in the 1986 King Edward VII Stakes, Golden Wave picked up black type with a Vintage Stakes placing at Goodwood and Celtic River was placed in Listed company.

There were nine winners in total and none better than Hellenic, a daughter of Darshaan who won the 1990 Yorkshire Oaks and Ribblesdale Stakes as well as finishing runner-up in that season's St Leger.

Hellenic has been to Sadler's Wells for 10 of her 14 coverings to date, including this year after foaling a colt by the 14-times champion, and it is a proven formula that has produced Gold Cup third Election Day, now a sire in Colombia, German Group One winner Greek Dance and the brilliant Islington, whose CV featured a Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare in addition to three British Group 1 successes.

New Morning, sold privately to Nicholas Springer, won last year's Brigadier Gerard Stakes while Mountain High, who joined the Coolmore team without appearing at public auction, is the product of a mating with Danehill.

Grecian Sea's daughter Troyes - who made just 13,000gns at the 1998 December Sales - produced Mont Etoile and is also the grand-dam of 1999 French Derby second Nowhere To Exit. Three other daughters of Grecian Sea - Desert Beauty, Olympienne and Sea Picture - as well as the granddaughters Desert Bloom and Islington are currently breeding at Ballymacoll, continuing a dynasty begun by a purchase at Tattersalls in 1938.

More stars to come

The Co Meath stud's then famously eccentric owner Dorothy Paget bought a Hyperion filly she was to name Coventry Belle from Esmond Harmsworth for 2,300gns at the December Foal Sale 65 years before her descendant Mont Etoile made 60,000gns at the same fixture.

Coventry Belle's year-older full-sister Godiva went on to win the 1000 Guineas and Oaks, and her granddaughter Country House, a three-time winner when trained by Sir Gordon Richards, produced the great miler and champion sire Reform.

Following Paget's death, Michael Sobell and the Weinstocks purchased Ballymacoll and its bloodlines in 1960, six years later producing Reform's full-sister Knighton House, who - also trained by Richards - finished second in the Coronation Stakes and is Grecian Sea's grand-dam.

Other descendants of Coventry Belle have delivered such luminaries as Derby winner North Light and Golan to Ballymacoll and with Grecian Sea's line proving such efficient breeders, it will be surprising if the family does not yield more stars in years to come.