The retirement of Sea The Stars may have deprived racing of one of its true superstars, but owner Christopher Tsui is already hoping that success runs in the family.

The wealthy Chinese businessman could soon have another top-class colt on his hands in Sea The Stars's younger half-brother.

The unnamed Invincible Spirit foal will be trained by John Oxx after leaving the Irish National Stud and Tsui thinks the son of 1993 Arc winner Urban Sea will develop into something special. He said: "He is a wonderful prospect with the attitude of Sea The Stars - calm, imperious and full of health."

Though bred more for speed, by a Group 1-winning sprinter, bookies Skybet quote him at 25-1 for the 2,000 Guineas and 33-1 the Derby during his Classic year in 2012.

As for his illustrious relation, a career at stud for the Oxx-trained colt now looms rather than a trip to California for the Breeders' Cup next month.

The lure of $4million prize money in the Classic at Santa Anita was strong, but temptation to tap into a lucrative new market proved greater.

Though whether Sea The Stars will command a stud nomination fee of up to £100,000 as some predict may be fanciful.

The economy is depressed. Giant's Causeway, a hugely successful stallion, can't command that sort of fee now. He is available at £78,250 ($125,000) in Kentucky and, in a poor economic climate, breeders go for the proven sires.

Meanwhile, connections of Conduit will see how he works at the weekend before deciding whether or not the colt will attempt to defend his Breeders' Cup Turf title.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner finished fourth to Sea The Stars in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but, having been heavily supported last week for the mile-and- a-half contest on 7 November, rumours were rife that all was not well with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old.

However, Peter Reynolds, manager of the colt's owners Ballymacoll Stud, confirmed last night: "He's fine. The Breeders' Cup is still the plan."