It's all set up. The grass is in wonderful nick, a huge worldwide TV audience are frothing at the mouth, and a mano-a-mano scrap in sport's best tradition is almost certain: Galileo versus Fantastic Light. It's not so much top as double top. In fact, all it's missing is the best horse in Europe.
Oh dear, always the bitter word from the spoilsports. There we go turning Galileo into some sort of high-trotting ⁿber-hero, and then a handicapper goes and pees on the parade, tries to tell us the best ever isn't even the best this year.
Sakhee is the best horse in Europe, probably the world, right now, and that's official. The Godolphin colt's seven-length demolition of the field at York means he is rated at 131, a pound ahead of Galileo, which means at the moment the handicappers reckon Sakhee would beat Galileo by almost three-quarters of a length if they clashed.
In fact, Sakhee was so good at York there is a growing suspicion that 131 could be a little conservative. In fact, it could also be resolutely argued that Sheikh Mohammed is sending the reserve team for today's big clash.
Now, now, all you Galileo fans, there is no need to spit the dummy out. Everyone knows the handicapper's opinion is just an opinion, but since it is the official one, and it's presumed to be devoid of wishful thinking, it's usually best to pay attention to it and try to get some focus on this phenomenon called Galileo.
To very many, after all, this horse is the latest successor to Sea Bird, Nijinksy and all the other evocative names of the past. Unbeaten, perfectly bred and supposedly blessed with the sort of talent that turns even the most flint-hearted at Coolmore into giggling groupies, he has already exhausted most of the media superlatives allocated to racing for a year.
Fanciful headlines announcing Galileo as the first $100 million horse must be like mother's milk to the always publicity conscious Coolmore team. There is also their repeatedly stated belief that Galileo will be even better over shorter trips, which suggests freakish ability but also a long-term view to that all-important stallion career.
But all this adulation presumes a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and while that talent may yet unfold today, or in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, or on dirt in New York, nothing we have seen yet from Galileo has shaken the resolutely objective from their view that while he is good, he ain't that good.
"Galileo's winning performance in the King George was well up to King George standard but it was nothing exceptional. To rank him with the greats, he has to go beyond that," says Ireland's handicapper, Gary O'Gorman.
"He is quite a charismatic horse who won the Derby easily and showed fighting qualities at Ascot. He is also beautifully bred, so you can't crab him," allows O'Gorman, who nevertheless returns to the 130 mark Galileo earned by his two-length defeat of Fantastic Light in the King George.
"Even allowing for Fantastic Light improving a few pounds this season, you still have to look back at the King George last year and how easily Montjeu beat him. Hightori (third to Galileo in the King George) was also murdered by Sinndar in the Arc last year," he says.
Sinndar's trainer, John Oxx, points to similarities with his Arc-winning champion in the uncomplicated nature of both horses and the flexibility which that allows tactically. He also feels today's mile and a quarter should not be a problem to Galileo.
"Just because very good horses don't run over a certain distance doesn't mean they can't win over it if they are tried," he says.
However, Galileo will have to improve dramatically for the drop in trip if he is achieve officially what he already appears to have in reputation and value. Another two-length victory after another slug-out with Fantastic Light will tell us nothing we don't already know except an admirable versatility in terms of trip.
But what is fascinating about today's race is the chance that Galileo could indeed hammer Fantastic Light & Co to smithereens and put in the sort of performance that will leave no one in doubt about his place among the great names.
"If you look at a horse like Commanche Run (1995 Champion Stakes winner,) you can see that class can get you home over longer distances," O'Gorman acknowledges.
"But I am also coming round to the view that Fantastic Light could be better over 10 furlongs. I'm not particularly convinced he ran as well in the King George as he did at Royal Ascot. It should be an intriguing race," he adds.
And there is nothing bitter about that word. Intriguing fits just right.
The experts give their views
Christy Roche (Champions Stakes winner on Assert, 1982)
"Galileo looks really special, probably the greatest we've ever seen. When he won the Derby, I had never seen anything like it. He is a superb horse with all the gears and so much class. I would love if someone could tell me a better three-year-old that has achieved as much. I haven't seen anything to beat him."
John Oxx (Champion Stakes winner with Timarida 1996): "He looks an ideal mile and a half horse. He is perfect for it. He has a high cruising speed and can quicken, which is the perfect classic horse. All this talk of him running over a mile could be just talk. There is a strong marketing element to the whole Coolmore operation, so hype is a fact of life. This horse has justified a certain amount of it, but what he has beaten, we won't know until the fullness of time."
Pat Smullen (Champion Jockey):
"Galileo is an exceptional horse. He has speed and can carry that speed over a mile and a half, which is what is exceptional about him. He is so good at a mile and a half and it's only the Champion Stakes that will tell whether he has as much speed as everyone thinks he has. I do think Galileo will win, but 10 furlongs around Leopardstown brings Fantastic Light into the picture in a big way."
