Sea The Stars pipped at post in rating game

Despite an epic victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, Sea The Stars is not the greatest horse in history, according to Timeform.

The Halifax-based firm had already identified Sea The Stars as "one of the best of all time" going into Europe's all-aged middle-distance showpiece.

Though he brilliantly came from off the pace to beat Youmzain by two lengths, the John Oxx-trained colt did not do enough to improve his mark of 140, argues Timeform handicapper Chris Williams.

The three-year-old was already firmly established among racing's pantheon of immortals before the race and his mark ranks alongside those of Dancing Brave and Shergar — but he is not regarded as good as Sea Bird II (145), Brigadier Gerard (144), Ribot (142) or Mill Reef (141).

Williams said: "While it was a difficult race to assess, we can't justify putting up Sea The Stars higher than 140. The bare form was not as good as in some of his other efforts. He was very impressive but he beat Youmzain by a couple of lengths, which is really all Zarkava did last year."

Phil Smith, head of handicapping at the British Horseracing Association, agreed. He believes Sea The Stars ran to a mark of 131, four pounds below the rating he achieved when winning the Irish Champion Stakes on his previous run.