SEA THE STARS confirmed himself as one of the greatest horses in racing history with a scintillating success in yesterday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

But having created another piece of history on the Turf, connections will let the dust settle on his sixth straight Group One success before planning a possible magnificent seven in the Breeders’ Cup in California next month.

The Christopher Tsui-owned Sea The Stars, whose dam Urban Sea – owned by Tsui’s mother – won the Arc in 1991, proved himself the horse of a generation and joined the equine greats by becoming the first to win the Guineas-Derby-Arc treble in the same season.

Wins in the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby, the Eclipse, the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes saw John Oxx’s iconic star sent off the 4-6 favourite at Longchamp.

And despite a troublesome passage under 50-year-old veteran Mick Kinane when the Cape Cross colt found himself bumped and bustled near the back of the field, he found the gap in the straight to power on for a two-length triumph from Youmzain, who was runner-up for the third year in a row.

Andre Fabre’s Cavalryman, under Frankie Dettori, came home late for third.

Despite the troubled passage Kinane said the colt’s triumph had been his easiest of the year and gave the veteran rider a third Arc triumph following wins aboard Carroll House 20 years ago and Montjeu in 1999.

It was only Oxx’s second runner in Europe’s middle distance championship, with Sea The Stars following up Sinndar’s in 2000.

The Currabeg trainer said: “After Leopardstown (Irish Champion) I thought that nothing can beat him and that he is the best horse by far, and he will win the Arc.

“He seemed better than ever in his homework, and his physical condition is getting better and he is putting on weight.

“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.

“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. I can’t quite believe it. 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.”

Kinane added: “There were a lot of horses in front of him that weren’t going so well, but just for a moment I saw a gap down the inside and went for it.

“He found five lengths in three strides, and then took off again when I tried to pull him up.

“When I went I knew that the race was in my hands. When he got to the front he knew his job was done and that is probably as easy as he has won.

“We probably got away with around 90% at York. He was fitter for the Irish Champion Stakes but we were at our fittest today.

“He has improved and changed dramatically physically from May to now. He is now a powerhouse.

“If he hadn’t arrived then I would say that I wouldn’t still be riding.

“I haven’t looked past this year yet. Today would be a great day to go out, but I have commitments for the year and I will see them out.”

TODAY’S NAP: Stratford Bridge (4.30pm Windsor).