[3] Ridden by the Scottish jockey Duncan Keith, Niksar appeared ideally suited by the soft, wet ground conditions[4] and prevailed by a length with the French-trained Présent in third place.
[6] In the build-up to the race there was a rumour that Niksar was the target of a gang which intended to prevent him from running, leading Nightingall to employ security guards and install an "electronic device" to detect intruders.
Niksar's subsequent form deteriorated, as he finished fourth behind Meadow Court in both the Irish Derby and unplaced behind the same horse in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
On his final appearance Niksar ran in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket in October, and showed slightly better form to finish third behind Silly Season and the Italian filly Tadolina.
[8] In their book A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Niksar an "inferior" winner of the 2000 Guineas.