from a break of over three months to contest the Group 1 Prix du Cadran over 4000 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 3 October. Racing on soft ground he finished third behind Invermark and Tiraaz, beaten four and a half lengths by the winner. At the end of the month San Sebastian started favourite for the Cesarewitch at Newmarket Racecourse but ran very badly and came home twentieth of the twenty-nine runners. When asked for an explanation for the gelding's poor performance Grassick and Ahern reported that San Sebastian was "feeling the effects of a long season". 1999: five-year-old season In 1999 San Sebastian left handicap competition and was campaigned exclusively in weight-for-age races. He began his campaign by coming home unplaced behind Celeric in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot in April and then ran third to Enzeli and Risk Material in the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown a month later. On 18 June he returned to Royal Ascot for the Queen Alexandra Stakes over two and three quarter miles in which he was partnered by Mick Kinane and started at 4/1 in a ten-runner field. He tracked the leaders before taking the lead two furlongs out and held off the sustained challenge of Jaseur to win by a neck with five lengths back to the Doncaster Cup winner Canon Can in third place. San Sebastian ran fifth in the Challenge Stakes at Leopardstown in July and then finished fourth to Royal Rebel in the Ballycullen Stakes at the same track in August. In the Doncaster Cup on 9 September he was ridden for the last time by Ahern and came home fourth of the six runners behind Far Cry, Rainbow High and Celeric. On his final start of the year he ran for the second time in the Prix du Cadran and was beaten a neck into second place by Tajoun. At the end of October the gelding was offered for sale at Tattersalls for 170,000 guineas by Charlie Gordon-Watson Bloodstock. He henceforth raced in the colours of Mrs Michael Watt and was transferred to England where he was trained by John Dunlop at Arundel, West Sussex. 2000: six-year-old season San Sebastian ran consistently for his new trained in the spring and summer of 2000. He ran fourth to Orchestra Stall in the Sagaro Stakes and sixth to Persian Punch in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown Park before