Sea Bird II, foaled in 1962, is considered by many to be one of the best post-war European racehorses. He was sired by Dan Cupid, out of Sicalade.
Sea Bird is most famous for Group One victories in two of Europe's biggest races, the Epsom Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Sea Bird was trained in France by Etienne Pollet, and the Derby was the only time that he ran in Great Britain, but the ease of his victory marked him out as one of the very best Derby winners in living memory. He won the race by a conservative two lengths, but was barely asked to extend himself. The second home that day, Meadow Court, went on to win the Irish Derby Stakes and English racing's biggest prize, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
In the Arc, he faced an incredibly strong field, including Meadow Court, Kentucky Derby winner Tom Rolfe, French Derby winner Reliance, and Russian champion Anilin. Sea Bird won comfortably, six lengths in front of Reliance, who was in turn six lengths in front of Diatome, who would go on to win the Washington International.
Among his progeny are the 1974 Arc winner Allez France, 1974 Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Little Current, Champion Hurdle winner Sea Pigeon and Gyr, who finished second in the 1970 Derby behind the incomparable Nijinsky II.
Timeform awarded him a mark of 145. The highest ever awarded. Ahead of Secretariat on 144.