GREAT RACES OF THE DECADE
They are the era-defining occasions that have left an indelible imprint through the annals of turf history.
Contested by some of the greatest thoroughbreds to have stepped onto a racecourse, these monumental races and performances stand as landmarks of excellence within the sport of kings.
Sea-Bird taking on and beating the world in the 1965 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which the strongest international field ever assembled.
The clash of Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef in the 1971 2,000 Guineas.
Grundy Vs Bustino in the 1975 King George at Ascot, "the race of the century".
From the 80s, El Gran Senor's superlative display of pure class in a vintage renewal of the Guineas, and the breathtaking brilliance of Dancing Brave, cutting down one of the finest fields ever assembled in the history of the Arc.
From the 90s, Swain defeating such giants of the turf such as Pilsudski, Helissio, and Singspiel in a stunning renewal of the King George at Ascot.
So which races/performances, can we take from this current decade, and which one single race from the thousands to have been recorded over the past ten years can we compare favorably with the truly great contests from down the years, and describe as ultimately as "the race of the decade"?
MONTJEU - Saturday July 29 2000 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes - Ascot
While far from the strongest line-up ever assembled for Britain's most prestigious weight-for-age middle-distance contest, the display from the imperious Montjeu is one of the most stunning performances witnessed in the glittering history of the Ascot showpiece.
Michael Kinane climbed aboard the 1/3 on favourite who had already won two Derbies and the Arc in his previous season, and had returned in terrific form prior to the King George.
Seldom has a Group 1 race been won with such stunning contemptuous ease, as Kinane steered Montjeu home hard on the bridle, his length and three quarters winning margin over Fantastic Light in no way reflecting his enourmous superiority.
Comparisions were inevitably made with the great Nijinsky who cantered to success in the 1970 King George, and Montjeu confirmed himself as one of the best 12 furlong horses seen in many years.
It was a truly breathtaking display of supreme dominance.
Montjeu's seminal moment in the 2000 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes
It was the hugely anticipated re-match between Godolphin's star older horse Fantastic Light, and Ballydoyle's impressive duel Derby winner, Galileo.
The latter was triumphant when they earlier clashed in the King George at Ascot, but at the Dublin venue over a shorter ten-furlong distance and with a difference of 5 lbs in the weight-for-age scale, it was the tough, seasoned older horse who defeated the great son of Sadler's Wells, following a memorable duel reminiscent of Grundy's clash with Bustino.
This was the ultimate battle of racing's two great superpowers, Godolphin and Coolmore, royal blue Vs dark blue, Dettori Vs Kinane, and together Fantastic Light and Galileo produced one of 'the' great duels in modern-day racing history.
MANDURO - Wednesday June 20 2007 - Prince Of Wales's Stakes - Royal Ascot
This contest is right up there amoung the very best races seen in recent years.
Won by a horse described by his trainer Andre Fabre as the best he has trained, defeating one of the best horses to have come out of Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable, with an Eclipse winner and Breeders Cup Turf winner behind these two champions.
In 2007, the brilliant Manduro was the best and highest rated racehorse in the world, and the five-year-old son of Monsun went undefeated throughout the season.
Dylan Thomas was the outstanding son of Danehill, who won both the King George and the Arc that year.
It was a vintage Prince Of Wales's Stakes, Manduro beating Dylan Thomas by a length and a quarter, from Notnowcato, and Red Rocks.
Manduro was a champion, and at his very best at the royal meeting against one of Ballydoyle's finest.
GOLDIKOVA - Sunday August 22 2009 - Prix Jacques le Marois - Deauville
One of the best distaff performers of the decade, Goldikova has eight victories to date at Group/Grade 1 level, including having emulated the great Miesque in winning successive renewals of the Breeders Cup Mile.
But this Prix Jacques le Marois performance ranks as her most stunning display, one of the most brilliant miling performances seen in many years, hugely impressive as she destroyed the subsequent Prix du Moulin winner Aqlaam by six lengths, with a further five lengths back to Lockinge Stakes winner Virtual, with Group 1 winners Never On Sunday and Gladiatorus further behind.
It was a fabulous display from a truly great miler at her brilliant and devastating best.
Watch Goldikova in the Prix Jacques le Marois. Please note the commentary for this race is in French
SEA THE STARS - Saturday July 4 2009 - Eclipse Stakes - Sandown Park
And so to "the race of the decade".
Won by the outstanding colt of his generation, the racehorse of a lifetime.
On this day at Sandown he was a colossus in defeating the brilliant duel Group 1 winning miler Rip Van Winkle a length, with four lengths back to subsequent King George and Breeders Cup Turf winner Conduit.
Further behind were Group 1 winners Jukebox Jury, Twice Over, and Cima De Triomph, in a stellar 10-runner Eclipse field.
The race was completed in the fastest time in Eclipse history, and was recognised as the best renewal since Nashwan won in 1989.
The performance confirmed the fabulous John Oxx trained colt as the highest rated racehorse in the world, a position he was to enhance when successful in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The Eclipse was a race of champions, won by the greatest horse of the decade, with outstanding opposition amoung the vanquished.
