The turf
Scintillating brilliance
Robin Oakley
ne of my favourite moments in the racing year is standing under the lime trees watching the equine superstars parade before the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The Classics are all very well in their way, but the three-year-olds who contest them are gangling teenagers compared with the assured older horses who take them on in this crucial all-aged championship.- This year, we gawpers and baskers in reflected glory knew that we had something special to look forward to. Mon- tjeu, winner of nine of his 11 races, includ- ing last year's French and Irish Derbies and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was running in Britain for the first and probably the only time.
First in was Michael Stoute's Beat All, head held high, led up by a lad with a yel- low short and tie to match the yellow V and cap of Saeed Suhail's colours. Then we saw John OXX'S Raypour, a scar on his chestnut coat but stepping out with a jaun- ty air despite his presence merely as pace- maker for the Aga Khan's other entry, Daliapour. Daliapour, winner of his two races this year, including the Coronation Cup, exuded authority, gazing calmly at the crowds. Fantastic Light, with his white blaze, a winner in Dubai, loped athletically around under the keen gaze of the Godol- phin team. The Japanese hope Air Shakur looked magnificent, his dark-bay coat glis- tening like a guardsman's boots, pink ban- dages on his legs and a fuzzy blue noseband to help him keep his head down. The mare Shiva was one of the last to enter the parade ring, preceded by trainer Henry Cecil in his dark glasses. It was difficult to tell which looked more stylish, though of course she is not shod by Gucci.
At last, though, came the sight we had all been waiting for. Montjeu, a brilliant horse who knows he is brilliant and who doesn't always see why he should do things that ordinary horses do, had been reluctant to enter the paddock but his regular work rider slipped into the saddle and coaxed him in. 'With a horse this good we won't hassle him, we'll just work round his little foibles,' trainer John Hammond said. And there he was: tall, imperious, a bundle of well-toned muscle. We didn't see him for long before the bell rang and Michael Kinane was swung up into the saddle, his mount acknowledging his arrival with a toss of the head as if to say: 'We both know what we're here for, now let's get on with it.'
The race itself proved to be as much of a procession as that which had earlier brought the Queen and Queen Mother to watch the 50th running of the race that bears her name. The Aga Khan's pair blazed the trail into the straight and the crowd began to cheer as Montjeu, the 3-1 on favourite, ranged alongside. But they never had to shout for the burst of acceler- ation which we know Montjeu can produce. He simply cruised up to them and past on the bridle. Mick Kinane scarcely had to move. We could scarcely believe our eyes: he was winning one of the top events in the racing calendar as if it was an exercise can- ter. It was like Linford Christie motoring past a gaggle of puffing parents on school sports day. I doubt if I will ever see a top race won so easily again.
Mick Kinane, who rates the winner the best he has ever ridden, said he never went beyond three-quarters speed. He added: 'The horse was enjoying himself. We haven't got to the bottom of him yet.' And I doubt if anybody will in his next two tar- gets, the Irish Champion Stakes and anoth- er Arc. It was awesome. It was a privilege to be there. It is a sporting memory etched on my subconscious for ever. My colleagues in the racing press could not remember a King George victory of equal authority since Nijinsky. And just for once it was lovely to see that the world recognised a horse-rac- ing performance of scintillating brilliance. We racing folk are used to having to search through to the page 17 nether regions of the Sunday sporting supple- ments to find coverage of our sport. But at last we had a four-legged champion embla- zoned over their front pages. If you get the chance to go to see Montjeu race, do not miss it.
For me, the rest of the day is now a blur. But there were other moments of pleasure, like Amanda Perrett's victory with Tiller- man in the Tote International Showcase Handicap, worth £67,000 to the winner. Since I praised her following her successes in Royal Ascot week, little has gone right for the stable. Tillennan has done me no favours. I backed him the last three times out and deserted him on this occasion when he came home at 10-1, again in Mick ICinane's hands. But it was a deserved vic- tory for a very useful handicapper, and for a still upwardly mobile stable.
And at least I collected some useful each-way money when Amanda rode Epsom trainer Brett Johnson's Butrinto into third place at 20-1 in the ladies' race. Brett has had six winners this season from his seven horses. Not many can boast that sort of strike rate. And though Brett won't be opening his yard for Epsom's Open Day on 6 August ('Too many of mine bite,' he says) most of the other Epsom trainers will. If you want to get a flavour of the racing life within easy range of London you won't have a better chance.
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