On July 2, 2000, under overcast skies at the Curragh, a colt named Sinndar produced one of the most devastating performances in Irish Derby history—galloping his way into the record books and sealing a million-dollar payday in the process.

Backed as the 11/10 favourite, Sinndar had already made headlines with his victory in the Epsom Derby three weeks earlier. That triumph set the stage for something even more historic: Budweiser, the event sponsor, had placed a glittering $1 million “Millennium Bonus” on offer for any horse that could complete a Derby double—Epsom or French Derby, followed by the Irish equivalent. The challenge was rare. The reward, immense.

Owned and bred by His Highness the Aga Khan and trained by the meticulous John Oxx, Sinndar arrived at the Curragh with the weight of expectation on his back. Jockey Johnny Murtagh, entrusted with the reins, wasted no time settling the Grand Lodge colt just off the pace set by stable companions Raypour and Takali. The plan was clear: set it up and let the star take over.

And take over he did.

As the field turned for home, Sinndar was momentarily nudged along. But within strides, he lengthened, accelerated—and then disappeared. By the time he crossed the line, nine lengths ahead of his nearest rival Glyndebourne, the contest was a rout. Ciro finished third, while the French Derby winner Holding Court laboured home well beaten in sixth.

It wasn’t just a victory; it was domination. The winning margin was the largest in an Irish Derby since the 1960s and confirmed Sinndar’s position as the standout three-year-old of the year.

His commanding win earned more than just accolades. The $1 million bonus, the largest ever offered for a Classic double at the time, was now his. Added to the race prize money, Sinndar’s day at the office was worth a staggering sum—roughly £1.3 million in combined earnings.

Sinndar would go on to add the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to his résumé later that year, completing a rare treble unmatched in European flat racing: Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, and the Arc. But it was at the Curragh on that early summer day that the colt truly stamped his authority, not just as a champion, but as one of the greats.