Sea The Stars etched his name in history by becoming the first horse since Nashwan 20 years ago to pull off the 2000 Guineas-Investec Derby double at Epsom.
John Oxx's colt is bred for greatness as a half-brother to 2001 Derby hero Galileo, and travelled beautifully throughout the race for Mick Kinane, who was winning his third Derby.
Aidan O'Brien's army chased in vain as the 11-4 second-favourite beat the well-backed 9-4 market leader Fame And Glory by a length and three-quarters, with Masterofthehorse a neck away in third and Rip Van Winkle fourth.
The 49-year-old Kinane never had cause for concern as the son of Cape Cross eventually settled perfectly behind the pace-setting Golden Sword and Age Of Aquarius.
Keen not to make his move too early, Kinane bided his time but was closely followed by Seamie Heffernan on Fame And Glory.
Two furlongs out Kinane was the only jockey not moving and when he pressed the button the response was immediate.
His stamina was the doubt before the race but his dam Urban Sea had won an Arc and there was no sign of him stopping as he crossed the line.
The Ballydoyle runners followed, with Fame And Glory never quite looking like catching the winner. Masterofthehorse made up plenty of ground from the rear while Rip Van Winkle got going all too late as Sea The Stars stormed home.
Golden Sword ran a cracker to hang on for fifth after making the running while Crowded House made late headway to finish best of the British runners in sixth.
Kinane said: ‘I was going so easy all the way, it was as if we were going in slow motion.
‘That's the key to him - he has serious tools, over any trip.
‘When this lad came along last May I thought I'd better hang around a bit longer!
‘He is so quick, he has a very high cruising speed and was nearly over-well today as he had improved enormously from Newmarket.
‘John has done a fantastic job with him. He hit the gates and he is so quick I thought I was going to have to sit right behind the leader at one stage. He over-raced as they weren't going quick enough for him.
‘I couldn't believe my luck when he came along, being bred as he was with the physical and mental attributes to be a great horse.
‘He has given me a new lease of life and he is a pleasure to be around.’
Oxx, who had finished first and third with his only two other Derby runners, Sinndar and Alamshar, said: ‘He impressed us a yearling before he came to us, he just had everything.
‘He's never let us down right from the word go.
‘Some horses look the business and then let you down but this fellow has never let us down.
‘I was never very anxious at any time during the race because he was going so well and as he improved down the hill I could see Mick was waiting, waiting, waiting.
‘When he sent him on I knew he wouldn't stop as he'd been going too well for too long.
‘He idles a bit in front, he's the same at home.
‘He could win at any distance. He could go back to a mile, and 10 furlongs is probably perfect for him.’
Oxx continued: ‘I think the St Leger might be a bridge too far.
‘I'm a believer in the Triple Crown, I think it will be won within the next 10 years with all these good middle-distance stallions about, but if we were worried about the trip for the Derby I think we'd be very worried going into the Leger if we had him entered!
‘We'll have to talk about it of course but this lad will be very good over a mile, and 10 furlongs.
‘The International at York and the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown are obvious races and there is also the Irish Derby to think about.’
O'Brien said: ‘The winner won well but all our horses ran well too. I'll have to look back at the race again but they all came through their trials and we're pleased with them.’
Brian Meehan was delighted with the effort of Crowded House, who had suffered a far from perfect preparation.
He said: ‘We are very pleased with that. He was off for seven days after the Dante and we just felt he got a bit tired at end. He goes for the Eclipse now.’
