Christmas Day is the 12th top level winner for Sea The Stars as a broodmare sire, with both first and second being examples of the proven Sea The Stars-Kingmambo nick, this time through Camelot.

Third in Saturday’s Derby was James J Braddock, who became the fifth Classic performer for his sire Zarak.

Jockey Tom Marquand said of Maltese Cross, after the race run in torrential conditions: “Our lad has run fantastic and George [Waud - owner] and the team are thrilled. You’d love to be the winner in a race like this, but we gave it a good crack and we’ve got a really fun horse for the rest of the year. 

“He didn’t love the ground, but he’s super honest and talented and he travelled super. I’m looking forward to getting him on a bit better ground and seeing if he can turn the tables.”

Kevin Blake, part owner of James J Braddock, said: “He ran a stormer and we are very, very proud of him. He showed some immaturity in the prelims and he did that before the Ballysax, but he was much better last time. This is the ultimate test of the thoroughbred and the prelims are part of it and it’s something that can be fixed. I need to watch it again, but it seemed a really attritional Derby and he hit the line well. It’s only the fifth run of his life. For a horse like him to end up here and be placed in a Derby – we’ve all got such a kick out of it. It’s the greatest race in the world.”

On the other side of the Atlantic, Portfolio Duration narrowly got the better of Aga Khan runner Cankoura in the Gr.1 New York Stakes at Saratoga. The winner is out of Shemya, sold by the Aga Khan Studs to Blandford Bloodstock at the 2014 Arqana Breeding Stock Sale. The mare – whose grandam is Gr.1 Prix de Diane heroine Shemaka - is also responsible for Stakes winner Cormorant.

Portfolio Duration is the third Grade 1 winner in the USA in 12 months out of Aga Khan bred and sold mares – following 2025 Just A Game Stakes winner Dynamic Pricing (out of Shemda) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies turf victrix Balantina (out of Balankiyla).