Mill Reef

It is rare in Horse Racing where two superstars of the same age and of the same stature race at the same time.

In 1971, Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard were the equivalent of a Christ and Buddha or a Lenin and Marx in the same era. No two horses in the history of racing made such an impact in a single season. Although, Mill Reef lost to Brigadier Gerard over a mile, there are many of the opinion that over a distance of ten furlongs or more, Mill Reef would crush his adversary.

This little colt was the equivalent of what Bradman, Hanif Mohammad, Everton Weekes and Rohan Kanhai were to cricket-all relatively short in heightat 5ft.4in, but simply spectacular stroke players who displayed genius.On their day the best bowlers would be put at bay. Similarly in Racing, Mill Reef made up for his diminutive height by scoring victories in big races in a most spectacular fashion. He reminded me of the Pakistani star batsmen, Zaheer Abbas, who would dominate the bowling to the greatest extent taking the bowling to the sword, but exhibit the most feline grace, like a pianist tapping his notes.

Mill Reef would exhibit the qualities of a racing machine, while his running action possessed the most graceful strides, reminescent of a Roll's Royce car racing. The manner he defeated his opponents in Racing considering their formidable stature was the equivalent of a batsmen squarecutting or driving a superb delivery by a great bowler with the most delicate of touches, the ball racing like a bullet to the boundary. He left his opponents like a plane taking of a runaway. His action was almost faultless and he was equally effective on heavy and soft going.

Mill Reef was bred in Virginia by his owner, Paul Mellon, one of the most distinguished figures on the American turf and trained by Ian Balding at Kingsclere.

Mill Reef was a beautifully proportioned bay, full of quality and very difficult to fault, with a kindly and equable temperament. He was a most well-behaved horse with the courage of a soldier. He had an almost perfect confirmation. He was a neat, strongly made, compact colt built on similar lines as Exbury and Hyperion. He stood 15.2 h.high.

Mill Reef was by Never Bend (by Nasrullah), a record stakes earner as a champion two year old but too headstrong to win the classics as a 3 year old.However, he was placed in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Mill Reef’s dam Milan Mill never won. By Princequillo out of Virginia Water, by Count Fleet, she is half-sister to Berkeley Springs, winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes and runner up in both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks. Red Ray, dam of Virginia Water, was by Hyperion out of Infra Red and was bought by a two year old for 12,000 Guineas at the sale of Lord Portal’s Horses. Red Ray, who never ran himself, was the grandson of the famous Black Ray.

Mill Reef revealed his class as a 2-year-old. He won the five furlongs of the Salisbury Stakes by 5 lengths from Fireside Chat. It was evident now that he was a most talented youngster. Next time out he suffered his first defeat in the Prix Robert Papin, at the hands of My Swallow by the margin of a short head. He participated in the race after a hard journey that took the toll out of him. He also had a grueling race after a bad draw.

However, in the Gimrack Stakes the little colt ran as if the spirits possessed him. On heavy ground, he was never let off the bit and in the last two furlongs strode home, sparing 10 lengths at the winning post. What was startling was that before the race his trainer, Ian Balding, was on the verge of withdrawing him as a result of the soft ground.He had given the runner up 33-lb and statistically this could have been the greatest ever 2-year-old performance. However, the subsequent performances of the runner up and the third showed that the going hardly suited them that day (Both later failing on soft going).

Next out, Mill Reef did not impress his supporters in the Imperial Stakes, which he won by the margin of a length from Hecla. Coming into the last furlong there was every likelihood of Mill Reef being defeated. However, 100 yards from the post after being pushed by his rider Geoff Lewis, Mill Reef glided into the lead and won going away. Lack of preparation was attributed to Mill Reef's narrow margin of victory.His trainer stated that Mill Reef did better when held up. He went on to win the Coventry Stakes by 8 lengths.

Mill Reef culminated the season with an emphatic 4-length victory in the William Hill Dewhurst Stakes. From the dip he cruised past Weceslas and Lombardo winning like a true champion. Strongly My Swallow was a colt of exceptional maturity and speed who went on to win the Prix Morny, the Prix de la Salamandre and the Grand Criterium. In the free handicap, My Swallow received 9st.7lb, MillReef 9st.6lb., and Brigadier Gerard 9st.5 lb. It was very rare to have three such top class 3 year olds racing together.

Mill Reef made a winning debut in the Greenham Stakes as a 3-year-old. He won that race effortlessly in a canter by 4 lengths. However, in the 2,000 Guineas Brigadier Gerard outclassed him. With two furlongs to go the ‘Brigadier’ simply flew past Mill Reef and My Swallow as if he was passing statues, to win by 3 lengths. Mill Reef finished second, three parts of a length ahead of My Swallow.This was possibly Mill Reef's worst performance of his career. In the pre-parade ring the giant colt Minsky had intimidated him and this affected him. Mill Reef was simply not his true self.

Brigadier Gerard’s connections doubted his ability to stay over a mile and a half, as his breeding did not justify it. Ian Balding was convinced Mill Reef would stay. Thus Brigadier Gerard was only entered for the mile races to consolidate his reputation as a miler.

In the Epsom Derby, Mill Reef started as 100-30 favourite. He was held in a handy position throughout the race. With two furlongs to go he accelerated in the smoothest possible fashion to win by 2 lengths from Linden Tree.

It was a most authoritative win. Mill Reef had beaten the horses who went on to win the Irish Derby and St.Leger subsequently. Racegoers at Epsom witnessed one of the great performances in the big race. Mill Reef had won with the graceful action of a pianist.

Three weeks later, Mill Reef won the Eclipse Stakes with utter disdain. He defeated Caro, the leading 4 year old in France by 4 lengths (Caro had won the Prix Ganay and the previous year won the French 2,000 Guineas).Just two weeks previously, Caro had won the Prix Ganay in record time from one of the strongest fields assembled. Caro was thus one of the best French 4 years old seen in Europe for some time. In 1977 he produced the French Derby winner Acamas as well as the French Oaks winner, Crystal Palace. He went on to produce Cozenne, the Breeders Cup winner and Winning Colours, the third filly to win the Kentucky Derby in 1988. This performance reminded racing fans about horses like Ribot and Nijinsky. Where he surpassed them was the sheer grace he displayed in his galloping strides.

In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Mill Reef treated a strong international field like starters hacks. On entering the straight he cruised like a missile into the lead passing the other horses as though they were telegraph poles, to win by 6 lengths from Ortis, the Italian Champion.

Ortis had been one of the best horses to have raced in Italy in recent years. Mill Reef had won by the largest margin a horse had ever won this big race, surpassing Ribot's record of 5 lengths. Stintino, the previous year's Derby third to Nijinsky finished more than 10 lengths behind him. This performance eclipsed Nijinsky's great performance a year ago. Racegoers at Royal Ascot that day witnessed sheer poetry in motion. The manner this colt lengthened his strides to reach his maximum pace was reminiscent of a ballad dancer.

Mill Reef had simply devoured the opposition like a tiger crushing his prey. The great colt flew past his rivals like an eagle swooping past a cluster of trees. In 1970, Nijinsky had achieved the greatest victory ever in the race, winning from the 1969 Epsom Derby winner pulled up by 2 lengths. On that day experts called Nijinsky the horse of the Century' and wondered whether they would see the likes of this performance again.

However to their amazement the following year they witnessed an even superior performance. This was reminiscent in Cricket of fans who watched both Everton Weekes and Rohan Kanhai play. They were simply the greatest right-hand batsmen of their times. No right-handed batsman in their eras could equal the degree to which they simply tore the best of fast bowlers apart. After Everton Weekes had scored the best century of his test career his fans claimed that it was simply the closest to Bradman and the likes of that innings would not be seen again. However, more than a decade later, Rohan Kanhai's best century was regarded by some critics as one that resembled Bradman to a greater extent and surpassed Weekes's in terms of the opposition faced and the degree to which the bowling was dominated.

Mill Reef's victory was exactly that to horse racing when compared to Nijinsky's previous King George victory. It was like one day seeing Christ and the next day seeing a Gandhi (Two men who have exerted the greatest influence on mankind). Lester Piggott after the race stated that Mill Reef was the best horse he had seen (Lester, who had ridden the superstar Nijinsky as well as Meadow Court, the runner -up to Sea Bird in the Epsom Derby and finished 9th behind Sea Bird in the Arc).

Racing fans all over Europe came to see the emperor crowned in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Mill Reef, like a batsmen stroking an effortless square cut to pierce an impregnable field, flew through a gap like a bird to win by 3 lengths in record time from Pistol Packer (The champion French Filly-winner of the French 1000 Guineas and the Oaks) and Caro.Pistol Packer had been one of the best fillies who raced in France, in recent years.

Mill Reef had become the first British horse to win the Arc since 1948. It was one of the most emotional days for British supporters. The reception he received in the unsaddling enclosure was like crowds thronging around Mahatma Gandhi.

Mill Reef was the first horse to complete the treble of the Epsom Derby, the King George and the Arc. He was given a timeform rating of 141, three points ahead of what Nijinsky was awarded a year ago (First horse to win the Triple Crown for 35 years). Racing experts voted him as the horse of the year even ahead of unbeaten miler Brigadier Gerard (rated the best miler ever in the history of racing). Their return clash, which would take place the following season, was termed as ‘the race of the Century’ (Brigadier Gerard is officially ranked by timeform at 144, second only to Sea Bird in the 20th century).

The following season Mill Reef, had been kept in training with a second Arc in mind. Mill Reef was given a public trial in Newbury, where he demolished his galloping companions, Aldie and Morris Dancer, each in receipt of a stone by a dozen lengths over a mile and a quarter.

His main target was the Prix Ganay. Mill Reef's chief opponents were Tratteggio, 6 lengths winner of the Prix Henry Delamarre, Amadou, who finished second to Caro in the Prix Ganay, the previous season and Mister Sic, the 1971 Prix d'Ispahan winner.

Mill Reef was well placed throughout the race and on entering the straight cruised like a railway train. He simply slaughtered the opposition like a butcher chopping meat. Although, he won by 10 lengths, he could have extended that to even 20 lengths! Some racing experts rated it the best performance by a horse in Europe since the war but it must be noted that both Sea Bird, Vaguely Noble and Ribot's Arc victories (the greatest post-war performances in France till then.) were gained against superior opposition. After the race it was proved that Mill Reef had not beaten phenomenal opposition as Amadou who finished second didn't win a race until November.

In the Coronation cup, at Epsom Mill Reef started odds-on favourite. There were only three participants, Bright Beam set a strong pace and in the straight, Homeric seized the lead. A furlong from home, Mill Reef came to match strides with the leader. It seemed that Mill Reef would simply gallop away. However, this was not to happen at the winning post, amazingly. Mill Reef only had a neck to spare. It had been ages since any horse had even given Mill Reef a run for his money. Geoff Lewis had to literally ride out his colt to the winning post. Homeric, would have won the Arc in all probability that season had he not broken down a furlong out (He finished third). However, I am convinced that Mill Reef was not at his best. His trainer, Ian Balding revealed that Mill Reef had missed some important workout gallops as a result of the appalling weather at Epsom before the race.

Ten days before the Eclipse, Ian Balding felt his colt was not at his peak as he had contracted a virus infection. He thus withdrew his colt from the big race. The Brigadier thus romped home in the Eclipse and the King George. The Benson and Hedges Gold Cup was awaited as the race for the horse of the century as Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef were participating in the race.

Mill Reef was now back in training and appeared his old enthusiastic self. Mill Reef later developed a swollen hock and had to miss that race. It was of remarkable significance that the ‘Brigadier’ faced the first defeat of his racing career at the hands of Roberto (Earlier Brigadier Gerard had won the King George). That year Brigadier Gerard polled all the 27 votes to win the ‘horse of the year’ title.

As a preliminary to the Arc, Mill Reef was entered in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes. During a powerful second canter on the penultimate day of the race, Mill Reef fractured his forleg. Two days earlier his owner had announced that he would continue racing as a 4 year old

Only great veterinary skill could save him. The colt showed remarkable temperament and patience. The racing world had lost one of its best-loved performers.

Charles Allen, a veterinary specialist was flown in Mill Reef's fracture was a complicated one. A triangularly shaped piece of bone about two and a half inches long was broken from the lower end of the cannon bone and was considerably displaced. The inner sesamoid bone was completely shattered and the rim of the top of the main pastern bone was damaged. It seemed likely that the inner sesamoid bone was the first to break with the result the next step the fetlock was not braced and the foot and the pastern were pointing outwards.The sheer pressure of the horse's weight caused the crumbling of the rim of the Pastern bone and the breaking of the cannon bone.

It was decided that an operation would be performed in a building in Ian Balding's yard. A six-hour period was taken to place a simplified stainless-steel compression plate held by 3 screws to pin the broken pieces to the cannon bone. The injuries on the sesamoid bone or the rim of the pastern were avoided. The operation was successful. Miracles of modern veterinary science and undaunting courage had saved the life of this superstar. Edwin Roberts had performed the operation.Thus Mill Reef's life was saved by him. His vet John Hallam, played a major role in nursing him for three months and his relationship with this great horse and the meticulous care he took of the horse while nursing him, was one of Racing's most touching stories.

Mill Reef was syndicated to the National Stud at Newmarket for 2,000,000, a British record. At stud, he produced remarkable winners, which included Shirley Heights (1978 Epsom and Irish Derby winner, who produced French Derby winner and top sire Darshaanr), Acamas (1978 French Derby winner), Reference Point (1987 English Derby, King George and St.Leger winner), Glint of Gold (1981 Epsom Derby runner-up and Italian Derby winner), Behera the Arc runner-up, Doyoun (The 1988 2000-Guineas winner who produced 1998 superstar, Daylami), Lashkari (the Innaugural Breeders Cup turf winner, and Fairy Footsteps (1,000 Guineas winner).

He died in 1986. In 1978 and 1987 he was the champion sire. It was a testimony that his best ever horse, Reference Point was crowned the champion horse just a year after the great colt had left for his heavenly abode.

In my view, Mill Reef is the closest challenger with Ribot to Sea Bird for the title of the best European middle distance horse of the Century. Mill Reef is the only middle-distance racehorse in history to win six consecutive Group 1 races and the only horse to win the quartet of the Epsom Derby,Eclipse, King George and Arc.

Since his retirement in 1971, only Dancing Brave equalled his performances as a 3 year old. As a result of his smashing six length win in the 1965 Arc against the best opposition ever assembled in a big race Sea Bird is above Mill Reef (beat opponents like Reliance and Diatome). When compared to Ribot, Mill Reef beat better opposition, in the same devastating manner as Ribot (As a 3 year old Mill Reef faced horses like Pistol Packer and Caro.As a two year old Mill Reef faced English colts which are generally superior to Italian one's).

However Ribot outscored Mill Reef when it came to toughness, winning three of Europe's greatest races travelling out of his home, Italy. His final 6 length triumph in the 1971 Arc, was one of the greatest ever. Thus, I give Mill Reef and Ribot equal rating. Dancing Brave won his big races (beat the best Arc field since Sea Bird from opponents like Bering, Shahrastani, Shardari and Trypitch.) with the same superlative authority against perhaps better opposition but his performances were well below Mill Reef's as a 2 year old.

Dancing Brave's record-breaking performance in the 1986 Arc surpassed Mill Reef's in the 1971 Arc, but I feel in the King George (Mill Reef won by 6 lengths from Ortis compared to Dancing Brave's 3/4 length win over Shardari), Epsom Derby (beat the high class Linden Tree by 2 lengths) and the Eclipse (Mill Reef beat Caro by 4 lengths who was superior to Tryptich) Dancing Brave was marginally inferior (He beat Trypitch by 4 in the Eclipse and held of Shardari by 3/4 of a length in the King George). Nor did he race as a 4 year old (Mill Reef's Prix Ganay victory was on the face of it the best in France since the war at that time) to compare him completely with Mill Reef.

Dancing Brave also did not display his ability to act on both heavy and soft going like Mill Reef nor did he have as much ability to stay (On hitting the Front he couldn't run away from the field like Mill Reef over a mile and a half even if he had more finishing speed.).Thus, I think he has to be rated below Mill Reef

I rate Mill Reef superior to Nijinsky as though the Triple Crown winner had a better record he did not equal Mill Reef in the opposition he faced nor in the manner he achieved them (Blakeney was inferior to Caro and even if a fully fit Nijinsky had won the Arc Pistol Packer was a better horse than Sassafras).

Nijinsky also did not prove his ability to act on soft ground. The same is the case with Shergar, who never trounced older horses the way Mill Reef did (Shergar'sgreatest victories were achieved against inferior opposition. Mill Reef's King George and Eclipse victories which he gained by margins of 4 lengths and 6 lengths respectively were more impressive than Shergar's 4 length King George win).

When compared to Brigadier Gerard, I feel it is unfair to rate the Brigadier ahead as though he has the best British racing record of 17 wins out of 18 (a record 15 consecutive wins!), his performances were phenomenal only upto a mile. I believe Mill Reef would have outclassed him in a distance ten furlongs or more. Thus, I would give them equal rating.

Timeform has given Sea Bird 145, Ribot 142, Mill Reef 141, Dancing Brave 140, Shergar 140, Vaguely Noble, 140 and Nijinsky 138, amongst middle-distance runners.

With regards to Mill Reef my serious disagreement comes to placing Ribot and Brigadier Gerard superior (144).When compared to superhorses of the world, I personally think Mill Reef ranks below Secretariat, Phar Lap, Man o'War and Citation.

Secretariat is superior even as far as raw ability is concerned (31 lengths Belmont Stakes victory and smashing victory against Riva Ridge in the Marlboro Cup), but as far as the other three Mill Reef may have possessed as much or even more natural ability but has not displayed his ability to carry top weight in handicaps or equaled their record of successive big race wins (Pharlap changed the rules for weight carrying phenomenal weight to win big races, Citation had a record 16 consecutive race wins as well as winning 19 out of 20 starts, and Man o'War won 20 out of 21 races carrying scorching weight in some of his races). All this can never deny this diminutive racehorse the status of one of the greatest horses to have ever graced the turf.

When he had to leave racing, the emotions aroused were indescribable. It was like Muhammad Ali or Gary Sobers retiring. It was also one of the saddest days for racing fans when they realised the greatest two horses clash of the Century between Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard would not take place.

The concern shown by people at the time of his accident and operation were like the concern people showed when great leaders like Churchill were serious. This showed how much people loved him. Mill Reef died in 1986.

John Oaksey wrote:

"Mill Reef had achieved in two racing seasons what most men do not achieve in a lifetime."

I don't think there could be a more appropriate statement.

Mill Reef 1968	Never Bend	Nasrullah	Nearco
			Mumtaz Begum
		Lalun	Djeddah
			Be Faithful
	Milan Mill	Princequillo	Prince Rose
			Cosquilla
		Virginia Water	Count Fleet
			Red Bay