When the four major contenders, Rewilding, St Nicholas Abbey, Workforce, and Nathaniel, line up for the King George today, itâs worth reflecting that, between them, they have won a total of 6 Group One contests; competed in three different countries; and run a total of 23 races.... By the end of their four year old careers, itâs unlikely they âll have run in many more. Reflect for a moment on previous dual King George winner, Dahlia. She.... ran 48 races before she retired ..... won 15 top races in five different countries..... won 11 Group Ones..... won the King George VI TWICE..... won the Benson & Hedges TWICE... won total prize money of around one and a half million dollars- worth about five times that value today.... was still winning at six years of age.... was twice UK Horse of the year... was Champion European Three year Old..... was inducted into United States Racingâs Hall Of Fame. Letâs face it, thereâs racehorses- and thereâs racehorses!
Too young to see her race.But everyone ive spoken too who did witness her said she was the greatest filly/mare of all time.
Triptych has a similar race record.And ran into outstanding horses too.I think this is why race mares will always hold more affection than colts.
I though the same thing Tam. It's a real pity that these wonderful horses are packed off to stud so quickly. I've always thought that unless a horse had won ten G1s, it was a bit hard to call him/her a champion. But look at the "immortals" on the rating lists. Score 140 plus from a hand full of starts then retire. They may very well have been the best of all time, but I sometimes wonder what would have happened to their ratings if they had faced the starter 40 times.
Dancingbrave...agreed, Triptych was another outstanding mare with a similar record- though probably better at 10 furlongs than 12 furlongs. Cyclonic, yes, it's very disappointing that many top horses run so few races nowadays. When you think about it, the top four horses in today's race will have completed three years of racing soon- and will probably have run about twice a year on average! Is that really 'horseracing'- or just posing?
I was there when she won her first King George and it was only a week after she'd won the Irish Oaks beating 1000G & The Oaks winner Mysterious, who was reckoned the best filly up 'til then. Dahlia was tough as old boots. And then '75 after being hammered by Grundy came back and won the big York race. I have a view that horses aren't as tough today and she was a great example of that toughness.
If you go back 4 generations in her pedigree you find Hyperion on both sides, and her sire was no less than the great Vaguely Noble, one of my all time favourites.
