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Celtic Swing: outrageously gifted, mind-blowingly fast, physically flawed
Celtic Swing winning the 1994 Racing Post TrophyCredit: Smith Phil
Those left agog by Pinatubo’s blitz in last month’s National Stakes may find it hard to believe that 25 years ago next Saturday came a juvenile performance visually more arresting.
In 1994 Celtic Swing stormed away with the Racing Post Trophy by 12 lengths. Victory earned him an official rating of 130, 2lb higher than Pinatubo was awarded in Ireland, which is itself 2lb ahead of Frankel’s juvenile rating from nine years ago.
It was a spellbinding performance that still arouses awe in Kevin Darley, who rode the colt.
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Julian MuscatFeatures writer
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more inFeatures
- ‘It was heartbreaking. That should have been our day’ - Dancing Brave and the Derby wounds that never healed
- David Jennings' 25 most exciting Flat horses this summer - including a 6-1 shot for Royal Ascot who could go off 6-4
- 'He's flying under the radar and might be the best bet in the Derby' - Tom Segal's Epsom and Royal Ascot Q&A
- 'He should progress into an exceptional three-year-old' - our team of experts pick out their horses to follow for the Flat season
- Star international jockey set to be a more familiar face in Britain this year - plus another rider returns to native South Africa