Very occasionally, racing can throw up a moment that leaves you in no doubt you are watching something special. The globe-trotting Pilsudski touched down in Leopardstown on Saturday and provided such a moment. Afterwards, it didn't require quantum leaps of the imagination to start believing the Michael Stoute-trained colt may do it again in the greatest prize of all, next month's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
It wasn't just the four and a half lengths that Pilsudski, already a Group One winner in Canada, Germany and England, put between himself and Desert King at the finish or the astounding 14 lengths back to the third, Alhaarth. No, it was two and a half furlongs back that proved this is a very special racehorse.
Desert King's pacemaker No Slouch had set the sort of limbdraining tempo that even had his more illustrious stable companion starting to struggle down the back stretch. Desert King wasn't alone. Alhaarth, no mug himself, suddenly found himself being pushed along by Kevin Darley long before the long final sweep of the bend was even reached. In behind, the progressive pair of Rayouni and Swift Gulliver discovered the harsh reality of how far further they have to progress in order to compete at the very top.
As if No Slouch hadn't been enough, another pacemaker in Dangerous Diva took over just before the straight. To his credit Desert King, given a brief breather by Christy Roche, geared up for the struggle in the straight but he and everyone in the stands only had to take one look at the horse in front of him to realise it was going to be fruitless.
Not once during the furious early pace had Michael Kinane lowered himself from his comfortably high perch on Pilsudski's back, not once had Pilsudski betrayed any sign of effort as the opposition gulped in lungfuls of air, but, even more remarkable, as they entered the stretch, Kinane still sat motionless, his arms full of the good vibrations that only the best provide. It was a startling image that will concern the connections of those other Arc contenders Helissio and Peintre Celebre, and one that Kinane can treasure again and again on video.
"It was as easy as it looked," Kinane grinned afterwards. "They went such a fast pace everything fell into my lap, and when Christy moved into second, I had loads up my sleeve. When conditions are right he's a super horse."
Aidan O'Brien refused to rule Desert King out of a tilt at the Arc also but he too had been impressed by Pilsudski. "There was nowhere to hide out there and the winner is a star," O'Brien said, while Roche was inclined to rate Pilsudski among the best who have raced in this country in recent years. It wasn't a surprising view. After all Roche, had one of the closest views of all of a moment that radiated racing quality. Pilsudski, though, made sure he was close for only that moment.
Understandably it was the high point of Kinane's day, which ended in an embarrassingly bizarre way. Donning his native Tipperary's colours in a challenge race against Clare's Jason Titley in the All-Ireland Challenge Match in aid of the Shane Broderick appeal fund, Kinane, on the 2 to 7 favourite Western Chief, was beaten a short head by Western Seas.
No more than a length had separated the two horses throughout, with Kinane just leading until Titely edged ahead in the final furlong. A confident Kinane then rallied Western Chief and although they finished together, the big-race winning rider was confident he had won what he considered to be "just a bit of fun".
However, following the judge's verdict, the stewards interviewed Kinane concerning his riding of Western Chief, after which they referred the matter to the Turf Club's appeals and referrals committee.
