Montjeu took centre stage at Epsom Downs on a vintage weekend for Coolmore Stud.

The former Coolmore – Windsor Park shuttler sired G1 Coronation Stakes winner St Nicholas Abbey on Friday and doubled up in the G1 English Derby thanks to Pour Moi on Saturday.

Montjeu wasn’t the only Coolmore sire to feature on a classic weekend for the Irish stud.

Dancing Rain (Danehill Dancer) won the G1 English Oaks on Friday and Reliable Man (Dalakhani) kept his unbeaten record intact in the French Derby on Sunday.  The Chantilly classic winner is out of a Sadler’s Wells mare.

Pour Moi (3c Montjeu – Gwynn by Darshaan) turned the clock back 35 years when he became the first French based colt to win the English Derby since Empery in 1976.  He is trained by Andre Fabre for Coolmore’s Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.  

The Gallic raider powered home to deny Coolmore’s Ballydoyle representative Treasure Beach (Galileo) and The Queen’s colt Carlton House (Street Cry).  For a fleeting moment at the furlong, Carlton House looked home but the Royal colt couldn’t withstand the winner’s withering finish.

“He had two accelerations, one to catch up and another to win,” Fabre said.  “He gave everything and deserves a rest.  I will bring him back for the Arc de Triomphe in October.”

Pour Moi was in the market after a last-start victory in the G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud.  He had broken through at Longchamp last October and Fabre was confident leading up to his 10th attempt to win the Derby.

“Andre told us Pour Moi had more speed than Peintre Celebre,” Coolmore chairman John Magnier said.  “He has to be ridden out the back so it was a tall order.  But he’s very good.”

Pour Moi is a three-quarter brother to G3 Saint-Cloud winner Gagnoa (Sadler’s Wells).  

Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) shuttled to Windsor Park for five southern seasons and left Group 1 winners the calibre of (Lord) Tavistock, Nom Du Jeu, Roman Emperor and Wall Street.