Champion clash that got me hooked

By Alan Conway

For many the highlight of the Irish Flat season is on Saturday when Leopardstown plays host to this year’s renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes. The race which was established in 1975 has a top class roll of honour. Names like Sadler’s Wells, Triptych, Giants Causeway, Fantastic Light, New Approach and Sea The Stars have won this prestigious event.

The race has thrown up some of the most memorable moments in Irish Flat history. Who could ever forget Dr Devious and St Jovite battling head to head down the straight and it was only the width of a cigarette paper that separated the pair at the line. Or the epic battle between Dylan Thomas and Ouija Board in 2006 where after the race Kieren Fallon was carried from the parade ring to the weigh room by racegoers in a show of solidarity over his ban from riding in England.

What is your favourite Irish Champion Stakes race? One race so good that years later when you watch a re-run of it you still get a chill down your spine. For me there is only one. The 2001 renewal of the Irish Champion. Galileo vs Fantastic Light.

It was the clash of the generations and a clash of ideals. We had in the dark blue corner the unbeaten dual Derby winner in Galileo. With his blue blooded pedigree and his race record he was an archetypal Coolmore horse. In the royal blue corner we had Fantastic Light who represented everything that was good about Godolphin. He was campaigned fearlessly at the highest level around the world and came to Leopardstown looking to settle a score.

The pair had already clashed once that season in the King George at Ascot where with a nice pull in the weights and the smoother passage Galileo won the first round. This race would see an epic second round. It didn’t disappoint.

From the off the Ballydoyle pacesetter Ice Dancer went off like the clappers and rendered himself useless as the rest of the field ignored him. Turning for home the Godolphin pacemaker had taken over and moved ever so slightly off the fence to allow Fantastic Light up the inner and forced Galileo a little bit wider. It would prove a race winning move.

Both horses settled down to a tremendous fight all the way to the line and it was Fantastic Light who prevailed. To say that there were any losers that September day would be unfair. Galileo lost nothing in defeat and despite his failure in the Breeders’ Cup his reputation remained intact and he has proved a wonderful success at stud.

All the people in attendance that day knew that they had witnessed something special. To me it summed up what flat racing is all about. Two heavyweight horses going toe to toe fighting to be the absolute best. Neither giving an inch, both giving their all and leaving their hearts out on the track.

Some people can be cynical when it comes to horse racing. The Irish Champion Stakes that day showed everything that is good about our sport. We may not get as good a race this Saturday but the Irish Champion Stakes will always have a special place in my heart. Here is to another great race on Saturday.

By Alan Conway