Sea The Stars proved himself a true champion today at Epsom when he added the Investec Derby to his 2000 Guineas victory last month.
He became the first colt since Nashwan in 1989 to win both the Guineas and the Derby, and gave his jockey Mick Kinane, two weeks away from his 50th birthday, a third win in the race.
The son of Cape Cross travelled well throughout the contest, tracking the pacemaker Golden Sword, one of Aidan O’Brien’s six runners.
Sea The Stars came to the front just inside the final furlong and galloped away strongly to dispel any worries that, being by a sire who was best at a mile, he might not stay the mile-and-a-half trip. It was a devastatingly impressive performance from the good-looking bay colt, who possesses a notably laid-back temperament.
Trained by John Oxx in Co Kildare, Ireland — for whom it is a second Derby triumph following Sinndar in 2000 — Sea The Stars is owned by Hong Kong-based 27-year-old Christopher Tsui.
Tsui’s father, David, owned Sea The Stars’ dam Urban Sea, and won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with her in 1993. Her son was immediately made 3-1 favourite with bookmakers Paddy Power for the same race. Sea The Stars is Urban Sea’s second Derby-winning son after Galileo in 2001.
“Some horses look good but let themselves down, but this horse has it all,” said Oxx. “He is at the top of the ladder.”
Displaced for favouritism just before the race by Fame And Glory, Sea The Stars started at 11-4.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Fame And Glory finished second by a length and three-quarters, and third, fourth and fifth were the 33-1 shot Masterofthehorse, Rip Van Winkle (6-1) and Golden Sword (25-1), all also trained by O’Brien.
The first British-trained horse home was Crowded House, a one-time favourite for the race, sixth for Brian Meehan.
Don’t miss H&H’s special report from the Epsom Derby meeting, on sale Thursday 11 June, plus an online picture gallery on Horseandhound.co.uk early next week
