'It was one of those momentous occasions that had to be seen to be believed'

The magnitude of an unexpected defeat lingers long in the memory. So much so that the inaugural running of the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup (now the Juddmonte International) is remembered more for Brigadier Gerard’s seismic defeat than Roberto’s opportune victory.

Even after 50 years, the haunting nature of Brigadier Gerard’s reverse lives on in the International’s reputation as a graveyard – witness Arabian Queen's defeat of 4-9 favourite Golden Horn seven years ago.

Baaeed’s imperious victory on Wednesday may have preserved his perfect record, as did Frankel’s carbon-copy triumph ten years earlier. Yet the race is destined to be inextricably linked with the calamity of Brigadier Gerard’s first defeat in 16 starts. It was one of those momentous occasions that had to be seen to be believed.