Galileo versus Fantastic Light; Coolmore versus Godolphin; Magnier versus Maktoum: the plot lines to the King George are many and varied. But perhaps the most surprising punch-line to today's big clash is that it is happening at all.

There is something sufficiently freaky about what we have seen of Galileo to suggest the actual result is reasonably predictable. The Irish horse should win easily. Less predictable was the idea of Galileo turning up.

Those who believe the King George is the ultimate clash of the generations are hugging themselves with righteous satisfaction, but they could be about to enjoy their dying kick. Today's clash definitely has a retro feel: maybe more Oasis than whatever now passes for cutting edge.

The golden age of Grundy and Bustino, The Minstrel and Orange Bay and other memorable clashes of the best of the generations are brought to mind in such circumstances. But this King George could be just a fleeting hark back to a different time.

It's surely no coincidence that all of the last five King George winners have been older horses. In the same period, only two Epsom Derby winners have even run in the race. Last season, Sinndar didn't turn up at all.

The reason for that was gloriously vindicated when a mature Sinndar picked up the Arc. But that was only confirming a trend. The best of the classic crop have turned to Paris rather than Berkshire for their confirmation kicks. The evidence of the last six Arcs, all won by three-year-olds, doesn't lie.

But Galileo's towering potential threatens to disrupt even that given. Where once The Minstrel, Troy, Shergar et al automatically looked to complete what many then regarded as the real Triple Crown of Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and King George, racing's newest superstar will be looking beyond Paris to New York in late October for his ultimate test.

Instead of a mile and a half of Parisian muck, or a mile and a half of manicured affectation, the future looks set to be really played out on mile and quarter dirt ovals in various Samesvilles, US.

Of course what is different from Troy and Shergar's heyday is the Breeders' Cup, that annual exercise in transporting an over-the-top and slightly sour cream of Europe to be ritually humiliated by hungry locals. But that is slowly changing too.

Giant's Causeway's remarkable effort in last year's Classic proved the dirt crossover can be made by a top turf horse, which commercially means worldwide pay dirt in the breeding shed. Coolmore will have noted that and where that pioneering team goes, the rest tend to follow.

In an industry where Giant's Causeway, officially rated inferior to both Sinndar and Montjeu, can enter stud at a £100,000 stud fee while those two outstanding Arc winners cost less than half that, it's not hard to see the trend, and it is a worldwide trend.

By definition that includes America and by definition that means even more hard days ahead for the traditional European championship over a mile and a half. As has been the pattern for 25 years, the stamina needed for those races is becoming more and more unfashionable in the breeding shed.

How else to explain the enthusiasm from Galileo's connections for getting the line across whenever possible that their star does not need a mile and a half to be at his best and how he might even be better over shorter distances? It has been non-stop. Immediately after the Epsom Derby Aidan O'Brien ruled out the Irish Derby in favour of the Eclipse until John Magnier whispered some caution into his ear.

But after the Curragh, the always commercially astute Coolmore supremo stated Galileo had nothing left to prove at a mile and a half. O'Brien even suggested he had been worried about the horse ever staying a mile and a half because he shows such speed.

It's not just Coolmore who are spreading ambitious eyes ever further afield. Godolphin's Holy Grail has become the Kentucky Derby and their best three year olds are targeted every year at it. The fixation on new speed resulted in both camps fighting over a $4 million yearling at Keeneland last week. The name of the colt's sire, Saint Ballado, was greeted with Saint Who by many on this side of the pond.

So what is Galileo doing running in a stamina-sapping mile and a half test today? The sceptic might suggest this is his best trip after all, while the fan could argue he can pick this up at his leisure and work out for a £750,000 pot on route to better things.

Whatever the answer, even if Galileo wins, the emphasis afterwards is still likely to be placed on the future and across the Atlantic.

It could be a taste of things to come and maybe even something of a last hurrah for a great old race.