The Lion In Winter an impressive winner of the Gr.3 Acomb Stakes. SEA THE STARS juvenile The Lion In Winter won the Gr.3 Acomb Stakes in impressive fashion on the opening day of York’s Ebor festival, smashing the two-year-old course record in the process.

The unbeaten colt was bred by Sunderland Holding and was purchased by the Coolmore team for €375,000 at last year's Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “He won very well the last day and people gave him a very high rating, everyone thought he was a very good horse. I'm delighted and couldn't be happier really. Wayne [Lordan] rode him [at the Curragh] and loved him. He'd been working very well and he's always been a lovely straightforward, uncomplicated horse.

“We came here as we wanted to give him experience ahead of the Goffs Million as we felt it looked a lovely race for him. We thought it could be sharp enough for him, but he hit the gates well and Ryan [Moore] had him in a lovely position. He didn't even touch him with the stick and he broke the track record, so obviously he's a very smart colt.

“He's the only SEA THE STARS we have. He's very good looking, which is why the lads bought him, and you'd have to like everything he's doing at the moment. I think he'd be okay at the top level this year, looking at what he did there. It looked a good Acomb, looking at him he'd have no problem at a mile and further next year.”

SEA THE STARS was also broodmare sire of the runner-up, Wimbledon Hawkeye.