STARDOM appears fated to emulate his full-brother, Calculus, who won the St Leger and Jamaica Derby for Gary Subratie in 2021, using sheer stamina to mow down rivals over two turns, dominating a year later as the country’s top distance horse by landing the Menudo Trophy and Miracle Man Cup, which he defended in 2023 against 2020 derby winner, King Arthur.

Were it not for gate 10, which kept him wide down the backstretch and into the lane of last month’s 2000 Guineas, followed by his own stablemate, SALUTE THE DON, drifting out then inwards, causing Dane Dawkins to switch lanes in the stretch run, STARDOM would have been on course for the Triple Crown.

Closing five lengths from off the pace at the top of the lane, STARDOM came charging inside the last furlong but was shadowed by SALUTE THE DON drifting out into his intended path under left-hand whipping while challenging STRONG AVEENU.