Sinndar proves a class apart as Oxx revels in superb home win

Sinndar joined some of racing's legends when he became the 13th horse to complete the English and Irish Derby double in an action-packed classic at the Curragh yesterday.

Sinndar's owner, the Aga Khan, was unable to watch his fourth double Derby winner, as he was at a family funeral in Egypt. He missed out on a dramatic, nine-length victory that must rank with any seen on the Curragh in recent years.

Last year's brilliant winner, Montjeu, was successful in France yesterday and remains on track for a double attempt at the Arc de Triomphe; but Sinndar, who picked up the well-hyped $1 million bonus for winning yesterday, has been installed as an 8 to 1 chance for an epic autumn clash in Paris.

The impression he left yesterday guarantees there will be some takers for that sort of price later in the year. But for the moment, the Aga Khan, John Oxx and John Murtagh can relish a victory that recalled the 12-length success of St Jovite in 1992. It earned them a purse of £1.3 million between prize money and the Budweiser Derby-double bonus.

Yet for much of the race the attention of most of the 28,500 attendance was drawn away from the favourite. It couldn't be avoided, because there was too much happening. The 11 runners hadn't even made halfway when Pat Eddery dramatically had to pull up the 2,000 Guineas winner King's Best. As the other thundered on, Eddery quickly climbed off King's Best's back and the colt was later taken to a nearby yard for X-rays.

King's Best's trainer, Michael Stoute, naturally was devastated and initially reported: "He's strapped up and we think it's a fracture of the canon bone in his right fore. If it is it would mean the end of his career. We don't know how it happened. It's just one of those things that happen in racing."

It was a sad conclusion, but the 2,000 Derby took no prisoners. No sooner had the Curragh crowd come to terms with King's Best being pulled up than it had to cope with the undeniable truth that the 200 to 1 outsiders Raypour and Takali were showing no signs of treating their so-called betters with due deference. And that included their stable companion, Sinndar.

Murtagh was hard at work rowing the favourite along coming down the hill as Raypour, in particular, showed no signs of stopping despite the ferocious gallop he had set.

Oxx confessed: "The plan was to track Holding Court, but he dropped out and I couldn't believe it when I saw the two pacemakers. But I suppose I wasn't too worried really. I felt Sinndar would probably pick them up."

Murtagh felt the same: "My horse was very lazy and I never really got to the bottom of him. He's just so honest and tough. He must be the best in Europe."

A couple of cracks of Murtagh's whip did indeed set Sinndar alight, and he swept by Raypour a furlong and a half out. The Aidan O'Brien pair of Glyndebourne and Ciro tried to chase, but once the emphasis switched to raw stamina, Sinndar began to thrive, and past the post with Murtagh giving a victory sign to the stands.

"He's clearly improved again from Epsom," said Oxx, who confessed to the sort of quiet fulfilment that comes from winning a race long sought after on his own patch.

"It's a different feeling. When I was growing up Epsom was always `over there', the greatest race in the world, and you never even think you'll win it. But I wasn't even 12 when the first Irish Sweeps Derby was run on June 13th, 1962, and my father's 2,000 Guineas winner (Artic Storm) was just beaten. To be able to come back and win is just about the most significant thing I could do."

It was a powerful statement, but Sinndar seems to demand such praise. George Duffield stood in for Mick Kinane on Ciro and reported: "For the winner to pick up off that pace like that means he's a really serious horse. I tracked him and my horse stayed like a good Leger type, but Sinndar just had too much pace."

Glndebourne's rider, Seamus Heffernan, said: "Half a mile out I was going better than Sinndar, but it was only a fourth race for my fellah and he will improve."

The disappointment of the race was the Chantilly winner Holding Court, who got "only" £25,000 for the £85,000 supplementary fee splashed out by his connections.

"He's run very flat. It happens," said trainer Michael Jarvis. Rider Philip Robinson added: "I knew I was beat after two furlongs. He was lifeless, much too relaxed where normally he's on his toes and roaring. He was like a lamb today."

Sinndar can now enjoy a summer break as Oxx confirmed he will be trained for the Arc with a preparatory race before that, possibly in the Irish Champion Stakes.

"That's over 10 furlongs so it might not be ideal, but at least it is at home," Oxx said.

If an Arc clash with Montjeu is intriguing, how could a Leopardstown clash between Sinndar and Dubai Millenium be described? Either race, though, will be the richer for having this Irish Derby winner in it.