Thoroughbred among Thoroughbreds

I don’t like horse racing – but I was transfixed by the performance of Sea The Stars in winning the Prix de l’arc de Triomphe in Paris at the weekend.   I’d just been reading in the Sunday Times that this horse was the best ever – and thought I should tune in and watch a bit of sporting history being made.  A few minutes later, I felt touched by greatness privileged to have watched a bit of sporting history in what might well be the greatest thoroughbred of all time.

It was indeed phenomenal.  The race seemed to be over by half way, with two horses way out in front and our equine hero buried in the pack.  But towards the finish something truly extraordinary happened.  Guided by his jockey, presumably, the horse started to weave through the field for all the world like Errol Flynn in the Charge of the Light Brigade.  He darted through gaps that either weren’t there – or appeared as if by magic, 

More than that was the extraordinary acceleration the horse showed to reel in the others and stretch away.  As I say, I have no interest in horse racing whatsoever – but I was truly gob smacked.  For once the finish did not need some idiot commentator shouting himself hoarse to try and convey excitement.  In fact I didn’t even notice him.

But even after the finish I was intrigued and entertained.  Simon Barnes in the Times had written a highly entertaining piece about jockeys – and how they are a breed a part.  I was intrigued to see the man aboard Sea the Stars was visibly ancient in sporting terms – nearly fifty years old. 

More intriguing too, the callow  oriental youth in the winners enclosure turned out to be the owner – a gent called Christopher Tsui, who was clearly deeply proud of his equine chum.  Endearingly he had passed out with excitement earlier in the horse’s career as it won the Eclipse in July.  

 And so after an unbeaten career of 6 races, totalling just 10.5 miles, Sea The Stars is off to a career shagging equine lovelies and is apparently worth a staggering £100 million and counting.  I do hope they guard him a bit better than poor old Shergar.