Swain v Pilsudski: the Godolphin ace battles to first of two King George wins

There was a time towards the end of the last century when Saeed bin Suroor monopolised Ascot’s midsummer showpiece.

He won it four times in the five-year period between 1995-99, courtesy of Lammtarra (1995), Swain (1997 and 1998), and Daylami (1999).

None produced such a thrilling climax as Swain’s first triumph in which the almost unconsidered 16-1 shot held off a galaxy of star names throughout the final furlong.

Helissio, a rampant five-length winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on his previous start, started a red-hot 11-10 favourite in a field which also included the Sir Michael Stoute-trained heavyweights, Pilsudski and Singspiel.

John Reid, who partnered Swain, committed the five-year-old at the top of the straight, but Singspiel, Helissio and Pilsudski were all ganging up on him as the furlong pole approached. It not only needed a performance of the highest class to fend off the trio, it required sheer guts, and Swain delivered on both counts.

Responding generously to Reid’s urgings, Swain galloped on relentlessly, and Singspiel was the first to crack.

Helissio was also unable to force his way past the battling son of Nashwan inside the final furlong, and the final challenge of all came from Pilsudski.

The Mick Kinane-ridden globetrotter, a six-time Group 1 winner during a career of relentless high achievement, gave his all but Swain simply refused to buckle and crossed the line a length ahead.

Twelve months later he returned to Ascot to defeat the Derby winner High-Rise. What a horse he was.

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