In my lifetime. 1)Harbinger.In the top 3 greatest performances ive ever seen anywhere on a racecourse. 2)Montjeu.To win a KG is a great achievement.To win one showing disdain for Group 1 rivals is another thing.Easiest winner of the race you will ever see. 3)Nashwan.Looking like Cacoethes was gonna sweep past and run away with it 2 furlongs out.Nashwan had other ideas..legendary 4)Lammtarra.Had no right to win when Pentire loomed up and took over.But this horse never shirked a battle in his life and fought back to get up.A monster of a horse. 5)Dancing Brave.Worse ride Eddery ever gave him.Hit the front way too soon an idled.Shadari was flattered to run him so close. Wasn't the greatest performance in a KG.But he deserves to be here on the merits of him being my fave and a legendary racehorse.
Erm Dancing Brave all out to beat the mighty Shadari, oh do behave DBF. I would go Harbinger Grundy Montjeu Shergar Nijinsky
I would have to think long and hard about the 3rd and 4th but for me the first 3 would be: 1. Ribot. The Italian wonder horse (unbeaten in 16 races (including the KG, and 2 Arcs), on all types of going from 5f to 2miles). On his only visit to these shores, despite almost slipping over on the final bend in the soft going, he sprinted clear to win by 5l. An amazing performance that I was privileged to witness live. 2. Harbinger. The closest to Ribot I've ever seen. How a horse could win so easily in that time I don't know. He could have set a course record that would never be beaten. As it was he sauntered to victory and still broke the course record. A very sad loss for British racing. I would have walked to Paris to watch that horse. 3. The KG cannot be mentioned without referring to that epic race between Grundy and Bustino, another race I was privileged to witness live.
I can't even remember who he beat but Generous was a mighty impressive winner. Harbinger and Nashwan also stick in the memory. Can't remember anything before Nashwan personally but obviously seen the replays of Bustino v Grundy - amazing race.
1) The Grundy/Bustono race of course stands out. 2) I only went to the race once, in 1981 - and was lucky enough to see the great Shergar win that day. 3) Dahlia's tw0 wins in the 70s were a great achievement 4) Harbinger, of course - especially as I backed him as well. 5) Mill Reef is one of my all time favs so have to make him number five
Shergar, well DB did beat a double Derby winner,Triptych,Champion middle distance older horse,the previous years KG winner who incidentally beat Oh So Sharp in that race..not too shabby
Top 5 - in no particular order- although Dahlia's win " sticks in the mind." 1. Busted- a late developer who rocketed home. 2. Harbinger- same comment as above. 3. Montjeu- hacked up. 4. Dahlia- her burst from the pack as a three year old was mind boggling. 5. Ragusa- a late developing three year old who would have gone even higher- bar injury.
A lot of those listed above are a bit before my time but looking back at the old ‘roll of honour’ certainly makes interesting reading and one thing certainly stands out. The 1970’s had such luminaries as Nijinsky, Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef and Grundy, the 1980’s Shergar, Dancing Brave, Reference Point and Nashwan, the 1990’s saw such ‘top table’ merchants as Generous, Lammtara and Swain victorious but the current millennium has, in the main, been something of a ‘damp squib’ by comparison as connections seem to be swerving the heat with the very, very, very best (especially 3YO’s) and seeking alternative targets. Harbinger’s win though hinted at a renaissance for the heat and let’s hope for another epic renewal in 2011 with a thoroughly deserved and high quality winner. The race may have lost its ‘diamonds’ but that’s no excuse for it not to sparkle.
Some pretty decent horses in the mix <tongue in cheek smiley> so I'll add in one of my favourites - Hurricane Run.
2010 - Harbinger - [video=youtube;mo7pEsp2WKc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo7pEsp2WKc[/video] 1975 - Grundy - [video=youtube;J4KvQ5fxsdE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4KvQ5fxsdE[/video] 2006 - Hurricane Run - [video=youtube;nLEQJxE_c20]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLEQJxE_c20[/video] 2004 - Doyen - [video=youtube;2n75a2S44xc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n75a2S44xc[/video] 2001 - Galileo - [video=youtube;S50Y25xC6PQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S50Y25xC6PQ[/video] Harbinger won in a rout, but I still feel that others ran below form and that helped him win so convincingly. Grundy was before my time but I love watching that race back, the pace they went makes it a fantastic race Hurricane Run coming through the gap was very memorable to me, the way he looked beat 2 furlongs out makes his win more spectacular to view. Doyen went away with major class, a memorable moment. Galileo and Fantastic Light battling it out and Galileo going away to win after looking like he was going to be outdone by Frankie and Fantastic Light. A special renewal. The commentary when Galileo gets to the front is brilliant
Ribot??? Blimey Ron - and I thought I was ancient My earliest memory of this race would be Ribot's son Ragusa in '63, but amongst such a distinguised roll of honour I don't think I could choose a top five - or even a top one. Oh ok then - Lammtarra for sheer battling spirit
Brilliant Nass - I can watch these covertly in the office today as my boss is out! (although without sound for obvious reasons!) Don't suppose you have Lammtara there do you? Pretty please
Nass your a gent for sticking these up, lovely job I agree with Chippy re: Old Hurricane Run, though mainly pocket talk as I had a sizeable 'get out of jail' bet riding on him and ever since then I shall defend Mr Soumillon to the hilt! Off topic but I still have my him as one of my favourite jockeys. The man for the big day! I agree with Nass re: Harbinger also, it was a mega performance but the reality is a few did run below par. However, he still would have won on the day with that performance.
And one for any old timers [video=youtube;U13c45h__4Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U13c45h__4Q&feature=related[/video]
Fantastic Ron I take these are to be found on that U-bend or some such thing. I'll have to go looking sometime - find the mighty Arkle's triumphs for the puppies here to see and wonder at Long Run = yawn
Yes Nass - the Galileo win was terrific. The commentator turned into a Yank for a couple of seconds. First time I have seen the Ribot win Ron. Remarkable to think that was his 14th straight win.
..........and then won 2 Arcs. The story of the second Arc is amazing. Several trainers plotted Ribot's downfall with pacemakers. Funny thing was, none of them could keep up with him.
