See The Stars Win Arc

Sea The Stars secured racing immortality with victory in

the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

The John Oxx-trained colt carved his name into the

annals of Turf history with a sixth consecutive Group

One triumph. Brilliantly ridden by the veteran

Mick Kinane, who has been at the helm for all nine of

Sea The Stars' racecourse appearances, the

remarkable three-year-old emphatically justified

red-hot favouritism.

Youmzain, ridden by Kieren Fallon and trained by

Mick Channon, finished second in the Arc for a third

consecutive year. The Frankie Dettori-ridden Cavalryman

stayed on for third, but was no match for the mercurial

winner.

Despite his confidence in the colt, Oxx admitted that pre-race nerves were beginning to take a hold. He said: "After Leopardstown (Irish Champion Stakes) I thought that nothing can beat him and that he is the best horse by far, and he will win the Arc.

"But as you get closer you start to think about the great horses that have come here after a good season and haven't done it, and you think he could be another one. He was in great form, though, and we were delighted with his preparation. He seemed better than ever in his homework, and his physical condition is getting better.

Oxx was also quick to highlight Sea The Stars' versatility when squaring up to adversity. The Currabeg handler added: "A horse like that can get himself out of trouble, but there was a bit of jostling early on and it set him off and he was a bit keen for a while, a bit like the Derby I suppose.

"Mick had to pull him back then and get him behind horses to settle, and I think that would have made the punters who backed him a little bit nervous. I was happy as he had some of the fancied horses in front, but there was an anxious moment whether he would go out or go in, but once he started to go you knew he would get through.

"No horse in any race has more speed than he has and Mick wasn't worried when he was a little bit back. He has come on a lot since the Eclipse and he is a better horse now. He just does enough when he hits the front and will never win by very far.

"He is a great, great horse to keep on winning and to have won all of those races. We just go from race to race and we will see - he has done a lot. I suppose you are going to ask me about the Breeders' Cup, but that is November 7 and I am not sure how we would all feel about that.

"We will let the dust settle, and now is not the time to make a decision. We will see how the horse is and make a decision. To have got as far as the Arc is a lot to be thankful for. I can't see him staying in training next year, but we haven't discussed it."