Epsom Derby:Stamina doubts proved way wide of the mark for the 2000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars as he completed a Classic double in the Investec Derby at Epsom. His ultra-cautious trainer John Oxx had not been totally convinced about the Newmarket hero seeing out the mile-and-a-half trip but he had stamina to spare in his length-and-three-quarter success.
Weighing room veteran Mick Kinane always had the Cape Cross colt handily placed and his mount rocketed home after leading before the furlong pole to become the first since Nashwan 20 years ago to complete the Guineas-Derby double.
The 11-4 chance lobbed along in fourth place for much of the way and quickly settled matters when asked to seal his place in racing history.
Fame And Glory, backed into 9-4 favouritism after a late rush of cash and heading up Aidan O'Brien's sextet, gave chase but could not match the winner's pace and had to settle for second.
His stablemates Masterofthehorse, Rip Van Winkle and Golden Sword filled the next three places to complete an Irish domination of the world's most famous Flat race.
Oxx's rare runners away from Ireland are always respected and Sea The Stars followed up his success with Sinndar in the blue riband nine years ago.
The County Kildare-based trainer commented: "I was more nervous this time because there was such an expectation. Being a Guineas winner we were hoping he would be one of the greats and it is nice he has delivered.
"We had a strong feeling that he would stay and that he would take more stamina from his dam than his sire.
"Mick doesn't say much and it is hard to prise information from him, but I knew he had a really good feeling from this fellow.
"From the few little things that he said you knew he thought he was up there with the best.
"I was never very anxious at any time during the race because he was going so well and as he improved down the hill I could see Mick was waiting, waiting, waiting.
"When he sent him on I knew he wouldn't stop as he'd been going too well for too long.
"I was never worried and could see he was going to win from a long way out. It was a very stress-free race and Mick said Plan A plus worked out for us as he had no anxious moments at all."
With Sea The Stars having now won Classics at a mile and a mile and a half, Oxx is resisting the temptation to tackle another two furlongs in the Ladbrokes St Leger, describing the Classic clean-sweep as "a bridge too far".
He said: "I'm a believer in the Triple Crown, I think it will be won within the next 10 years with all these good middle-distance stallions about, but if we were worried about the trip for the Derby I think we'd be very worried going into the Leger if we had him entered!
"We'll have to talk about it of course but this lad will be very good over a mile, and 10 furlongs.
"The International at York and the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown are obvious races and there is also the Irish Derby to think about.
"It hasn't stopped raining in Ireland for about two and half years though, so we may wait an extra week and have a look at the Eclipse.
"The big mile-and-a-quarter races will be right up his street, but he must have good, fast ground and we were worried that the rain today may have slowed the ground down."
Sponsors Coral quote Sea The Stars at just 5-4 for the Eclipse, while William Hill make him their 4-1 favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Kinane is just days short of his 50th birthday, but showed no signs of slowing down as he followed up his Derby wins aboard Commander In Chief (1993) and Galileo (2001). The rider said: "It is easy to be sharp when the horses make up any shortfall.
"He is so quick with a very high cruising speed.
"He improved enormously from Newmarket. John has done a fantastic job and he has improved so much physically.
"He over-raced during the race as they weren't going quick enough for him.
"I was happy with the position I had as it was ideal and meant I wouldn't get any dead wood in my way.
"When I got on this horse last May I couldn't believe my luck. He has the attitude to be a great horse and is a pleasure to be around."
Sea The Stars carries the colours of Hong Kong-based Christopher Tsui, whose mother, Ling, bred the colt's dam and 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea.
Tsui said: "I arrived from Hong Kong yesterday and I am overwhelmed by it all. I don't really know what to say.
"I am 27 and run a nightclub in Hong Kong, but that's just for fun."
The winner is a half-brother to Galileo, and Tsui added: "My mother makes all of the decisions - through the years she has made a lot of decisions on matings and has become a bit of an expert."