 The
Late Developer
Pilsudski's transformation, in 1996, from useful handicapper to top-class 12f horse
illustrates that one shouldn't write off a three-year-old who has failed to win a pattern
race by the time he has reached the end of his second season.
At the beginning of 1996, Pilsudski, rated in the 90s by
Timeform, began his Pattern race career with a gallant second to
Singspiel in a Group 3 race. From there he never looked back,
winning two Group 3 races in the UK and Ireland, before taking his
first Group 1 race in Germany. That performance was enough to earn
him a ticket to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's premier
all-aged race. Here he would come up against the best of his
generation, and the top performers among the younger
horses,including the classic winners Shaamit and Zagreb, French
star Helissio and proven Group 1 performer Pentire. He certainly
didn't disgrace himself, finishing second to Helissio who later
earned the Cartier Horse of the Year award for winning six out of
his seven races in 1996.
This performance earned Pilsudski a trip to the Breeders' Cup, a
championship series of races in North America held that year in Woodbine,
Canada. Here he showed that he was a top-class performer, beating a field of
the world's best Turf performers to win tenaciously.
 Kept
in training as a five-year-old, his 1997 campaign was highlighted
by wins in the Eclipse Stakes and the Champion Stakes, and a third
in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
Unfortunately a win in the Arc again eluded him, coming up as he
did against Peintre Celebre, brilliant winner of the Prix du
Jockey Club. So again he had to be content with second place.
Owned by the same team as owned Troy himself, Pilsudski has
given them the closest chance so far of a win in the Arc, a race
which has consistently eluded them over the years - even Troy
himself only finished third in that race.
However, he crowned a magnificent season by winning the Champion Stakes, after which
his retirement to stud in Japan was announced. In what seems like a perfect preparation
for his new career, Pilsudski then rounded off his career with a great win in the Japan
Cup, the most prestigious international race in Japan.
Pilsudski - Photo Gallery
Please click on the thumbnails for larger versions of these pictures
Pilsudski in Action |
Pilsudski wins the Champion Stakes 1997 |
Pilsudski wins the Breeders' Cup Turf 1996 |
Pilsudski wins the Breeders' Cup Turf 1996 |
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