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Brilliant Harbinger Goes Top of the Class
27/07/10

Prior to Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot all the talk was of Workforce and whether the Derby winner was as good as he looked when trouncing his rivals by seven lengths at Epsom. After Ascot, it is Harbinger that has tongues wagging following a truly breathtaking performance, writes Elliot Slater.

Harbinger had looked highly progressive when easily accounting for some good horses in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, but no-one imagined that he had come on to such a degree that he would win the 'King George' by an amazing 11 lengths (eased down), in the fastest time in history.

Star French jockey Olivier Peslier barely had to move a muscle as Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old who could be seen cantering behind both Workforce and Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco as they turned into the home straight. One shake of the reins from Peslier and Harbinger displayed an electric turn of foot that carried him effortlessly clear of a high class field in course record time.

The form looks solid too, with Cape Blanco in second finishing ahead of Youmzain and Daryakana who ran pound for pound to the same mark as their previous meeting in France a few weeks earlier. Workforce, the odds-on favourite who appeared ill at ease on the fast ground, faded from two out to finish a very disappointing fifth.

Now all the talk amongst those who place a horse race bet is of just how high a rating Harbinger achieved, and the feeling is that the BHA assessor surely has to allot a rating of not less than 135, which would place the son of Dansili up there as one of the all-time greats.

Bookmaker reaction to the performance was swift, with the Highclere Thoroughbred-owned colt as short as 6/4 with many firms for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a best priced 2/1 with online betting.

After the amazing feats of Sea The Stars last year I thought it might be another generation before I would see a truly great racehorse again. Maybe we are blessed at the moment, as Harbinger looked an animal of the very highest class and could still be improving.