Mill Reef Winning The Gimcrack (YouTube)

Won by 10 lengths on ground described as a quagmire , Ian Balding walked the track afterwards and said Mill Reef hardly left a mark such was the perfection of his action , he'd have given Frankel a fright.

GIMCRACK STAKES 6 F 2 YR OLDS YORK AUGUST
1970
1121.
MILL REEF 2.9.0 G.Lewis I.Balding 4/5 Fav
Never Bend - Milan Mill (Prince Quillo)
122.
GREEN GOD 2.9.0 F.Durr M.Jarvis 7/2 (Future Champion Sprinter)
Red God - Thetis II (Guersant)
2133.
GRAND CHAUDIERE 2.9.0 G.Starkey D.Whelen 0/8
Northern Dancer - Lochine (Grey Sovereign)
4124.
GAILLARD (Ire) 2.9.0 A.Barclay P.Prendergast 0/9
Soderini - Grey Sylvian ()
13125.
KINGS COMPANY (Ire) 2.9.0 W.Williamson T.Ainsworth 0/6   (Irish Gns Winner)   
Kings Troop - Miss Stephen (Stephen Paul) 
50122136.
MOST SECRET 2.9.0 L.Piggott M.H.Easterby 0/9
Crocket - Parysatis (Darius)
7. DON QUIXOTE 2.9.0 D.Keith 20.1
8. TREM BLAY 2.9.0 G.Duffield 20.1
DIST 10 L 2 L N/K 1,1/2 L 2 L 8 RAN

Absolutely stunning performance.

was the colour added to the picture at a later date?

Had BG not been born in the same year he would have been rated the best ever. I saw many of his races, he was an absolute star. No distance would matter 6f to 12f. Brilliant.

The last (most recent) Derby winner to win over 5f

i'd forgotten how impressive he was ...magic....

Much forgotten horse, absolutely brilliant

At the time I was in the Brigadier camp but on reflection I would say Mill Reef had the superior overall record. Don't think there is much doubt he was the better at 12 furlongs and I think he would have proved the master at 10 as well. The Brigadier had several close shaves but final race apart Mill Reef was relatively untroubled after his defeat in the Guineas.

Soft Pawn will be along in a minute to tell you all that Excelebration and Canford cliffs are just as good......

For me the 1971 2,000 Guineas is the best ever in terms of the quality and class of the main protagonists.  Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef and My Swallow all turned up for the gig and they treated us to a fantastic race.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-V3OSebt88

Yep,an all time great - no doubt.

Yeh,think it probably was the best pauli.

certainly seemed to like the ground - think he won the prix ganay by 10 lengths in similar conditions

certainly seemed to like the ground - think he won the prix ganay by 10 lengths in similar conditions