DOUBLE-DIGIT margins of victory are rare in classics, but they do happen. Two undefeated colts lined up for the Group 1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg in 2014, one the winner of the Group 2 Mehl-Mülhens-Rennen-German 2000 Guineas, and the other a pattern scorer at 10 and 11 furlongs.

Although the former was the runner-up while finishing two and a half lengths clear of his closest pursuer and would go on to beat Noble Mission in a 10-furlong Group 1 contest next time out, few if any of that year’s three-year-olds could have troubled the winner. Sea The Moon took the lead in the early stages and was never headed, eased down to win his country’s premier classic by 11 lengths from Lucky Lion.