THE MAJESTIC MILE.
Created | Updated Oct 15, 2012
The starting stalls shuddered and shook, at times rather violently. As one animal pushed and shoved against the metal confinement, others took took up the cause. The starter had never before seen anything like it. There were only six of them, but they had set about kicking up one hell of a commotion. He couldn't help but think they each wanted a piece of one another. Casting an eye over the small field, he wondered at what was about to unfold.
Drawn the inside slot was the mercurial Dancing Brave, on his outside, rocking and rolling in the gate, stood the wild one Nijinsky. In the three stall, the speed machine from Godolphin, Dubai Millennium, and next to him the brilliant Brigadier Gerard. One from the outside pranced the new kid on the block Sea The Stars, and drawn the widest of the six, the wonderful Danehill galloper Rock Of Gibraltar.
The gent on the stand held his breath, and at the first sign of a lull in the commotion, he hit the button, setting in transit a train of events that would in the end, bring about the undoing of five of the greatest racehorses who have ever had the luxury of gracing the turf.
As one they hit the ground, but it wasn't about to stay that way for long. As expected Dubai Millennium burst from the the stalls with great elan, and quickly crossed those on his inside, to settle on the fence in front. Dancing Brave, after being hustled out by Greville Starkey, immediately lobbed onto the leaders back, and from out wide, Rock Of Gibraltar showed pace to sit on the second horse's shoulder. Lester Piggott's ace in the hole was the two slot. He pushed the barrel chested Nijinsky up to race in the wake of the Rock, allowing Brigadier Gerard, to duck back under him and assume the rail behind Dancing Brave. Sea The Stars, from wide, was left with no option but to hook in behind and settle at the tail.
Once in front Dettori took hold, he wanted an easy pace. Hold them up until well into the straight, then let rip. He carted them through to the half mile at a solid pace, hoping that he'd be left alone to steal the race. But others were drawing up plans of their own.
Murtagh allowed an inch of free rein and Rock Of Gibraltar quickly ranged alongside the leader, and applied the blow torch. The race tempo quickened. Stride for stride they went, dragging the field to the three furlong pole where they commenced to swing the corner. Piggott wasn't one for sleeping on the job. While Dubai Millennium and Rock Of Gibraltar tore at each others throats, he'd been stoking the fires of the son of Northern Dancer, and he eased off their heels to place himself three deep, as they flattened out for the run to the line. He quickly charged clear of Dubai Millennium who by now had rolled away from the fence, allowing Dancing Brave to dive along the rail.
With the mighty Nijinsky now in full flight, and Brave Dancer chasing hard, the challengers began to unwind from the rear of the field. Brigadier Gerard was angled into the clear by Mercer, and was now starting to put in the big ones down the center of the track. The old man of the saddle, Mick Kinane had also found open ground on Sea The Stars, and was asking the colt for the biggest test of his racing career.
Nijinski, with Piggott riding as though the hounds of Hades were snapping at his heels, charged past the two pole, a length clear of Dancing Brave who was flat to the boards. Both Dubai Millennium and Rock Of Gibraltar, now began to falter. The challenge of a life time was being left to Brigadier Gerard, who'd stormed past the two early leaders, and had set sail after the duo up ahead. Sea The Stars tried to latch on to the Brigadier, but his fabulous change of gears weren't up to the task.
Dancing Brave was digging deeper than ever before, but try as he might, he made no impression in the fleeing Nijinski. He'd been broken, and was now easy meat for the Dick Hern trained miler Brigadier Gerard, who swamped him in a matter of a few strides, and started out after the pride of the legendary Vincent O'Brien stable, Nijinsky.
The ultimate battle was joined at the furlong post, where the wonderful Brigadier Gerard, threw down the gauntlet to the warrior Nijinsky. The Queen's Hussar champ thrust his head in front for the first time, but his initial taste of glory was short lived. Piggott wasn't going to let Nijinsky lie down. He pulled the persuader and asked the wonder horse for more, he need not have worried. He had more to give, and he willingly did so. And so it went, head for head, first one then the other forcing themselves into the lead, until in the shadow of the post, the hand of fate cast her lot. A heart was to be ripped from one heroic chest, and the pain of defeat would come at a desperate price. Nijinsky, threw one last defiant blow, in an effort to finish it once and for all. But the Brigadier was by now bullet proof. Nijinsky faltered for a single stride, and that was all that Mercer needed. The Brigadier nailed him.
Drawn the inside slot was the mercurial Dancing Brave, on his outside, rocking and rolling in the gate, stood the wild one Nijinsky. In the three stall, the speed machine from Godolphin, Dubai Millennium, and next to him the brilliant Brigadier Gerard. One from the outside pranced the new kid on the block Sea The Stars, and drawn the widest of the six, the wonderful Danehill galloper Rock Of Gibraltar.
The gent on the stand held his breath, and at the first sign of a lull in the commotion, he hit the button, setting in transit a train of events that would in the end, bring about the undoing of five of the greatest racehorses who have ever had the luxury of gracing the turf.
As one they hit the ground, but it wasn't about to stay that way for long. As expected Dubai Millennium burst from the the stalls with great elan, and quickly crossed those on his inside, to settle on the fence in front. Dancing Brave, after being hustled out by Greville Starkey, immediately lobbed onto the leaders back, and from out wide, Rock Of Gibraltar showed pace to sit on the second horse's shoulder. Lester Piggott's ace in the hole was the two slot. He pushed the barrel chested Nijinsky up to race in the wake of the Rock, allowing Brigadier Gerard, to duck back under him and assume the rail behind Dancing Brave. Sea The Stars, from wide, was left with no option but to hook in behind and settle at the tail.
Once in front Dettori took hold, he wanted an easy pace. Hold them up until well into the straight, then let rip. He carted them through to the half mile at a solid pace, hoping that he'd be left alone to steal the race. But others were drawing up plans of their own.
Murtagh allowed an inch of free rein and Rock Of Gibraltar quickly ranged alongside the leader, and applied the blow torch. The race tempo quickened. Stride for stride they went, dragging the field to the three furlong pole where they commenced to swing the corner. Piggott wasn't one for sleeping on the job. While Dubai Millennium and Rock Of Gibraltar tore at each others throats, he'd been stoking the fires of the son of Northern Dancer, and he eased off their heels to place himself three deep, as they flattened out for the run to the line. He quickly charged clear of Dubai Millennium who by now had rolled away from the fence, allowing Dancing Brave to dive along the rail.
With the mighty Nijinsky now in full flight, and Brave Dancer chasing hard, the challengers began to unwind from the rear of the field. Brigadier Gerard was angled into the clear by Mercer, and was now starting to put in the big ones down the center of the track. The old man of the saddle, Mick Kinane had also found open ground on Sea The Stars, and was asking the colt for the biggest test of his racing career.
Nijinski, with Piggott riding as though the hounds of Hades were snapping at his heels, charged past the two pole, a length clear of Dancing Brave who was flat to the boards. Both Dubai Millennium and Rock Of Gibraltar, now began to falter. The challenge of a life time was being left to Brigadier Gerard, who'd stormed past the two early leaders, and had set sail after the duo up ahead. Sea The Stars tried to latch on to the Brigadier, but his fabulous change of gears weren't up to the task.
Dancing Brave was digging deeper than ever before, but try as he might, he made no impression in the fleeing Nijinski. He'd been broken, and was now easy meat for the Dick Hern trained miler Brigadier Gerard, who swamped him in a matter of a few strides, and started out after the pride of the legendary Vincent O'Brien stable, Nijinsky.
The ultimate battle was joined at the furlong post, where the wonderful Brigadier Gerard, threw down the gauntlet to the warrior Nijinsky. The Queen's Hussar champ thrust his head in front for the first time, but his initial taste of glory was short lived. Piggott wasn't going to let Nijinsky lie down. He pulled the persuader and asked the wonder horse for more, he need not have worried. He had more to give, and he willingly did so. And so it went, head for head, first one then the other forcing themselves into the lead, until in the shadow of the post, the hand of fate cast her lot. A heart was to be ripped from one heroic chest, and the pain of defeat would come at a desperate price. Nijinsky, threw one last defiant blow, in an effort to finish it once and for all. But the Brigadier was by now bullet proof. Nijinsky faltered for a single stride, and that was all that Mercer needed. The Brigadier nailed him.
