Pilsudski (horse) - Racing Career - 1997: Five-year-old Season

1997: Five-year-old Season

In 1997 Michael Kinane took over as Pilsudski's regular jockey, and the horse had his most successful season, winning four Group One races from eight starts. His season began slowly, as he finished a well beaten third to Helissio in the Prix Ganay and was then beaten by Predappio when starting favourite for the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was unsuited by the soft ground.

At Sandown in July he won his most important European race to date, taking the lead a furlong out in the Eclipse Stakes and running on well to beat the Epsom Derby winner Benny the Dip by one and a quarter lengths with the odds-on favourite Bosra Sham (who had been unable to obtain a clear run) in third. Although much of the coverage of the race focused on Bosra Sham's defeat, Pilsudski was given credit for his win and was described by Mick Kinane as "fit, hard and ready to fight." In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot three weeks later Pilsudski ran on strongly after being switched to the outside to finish second to Swain, ahead of Helissio, Singspiel, Shantou and Predappio in a contest which was described as the "race of the decade".

Once again, Pilsudski produced his best form in the Autumn. The build-up for the Irish Champion Stakes in September suggested that the race was effectively a match between Pilsudski and the three-year-old Desert King, the winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas and Derby. Pilsudski tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the straight and pulling well clear. Even though he was eased down close to the finish he still crossed the line four and a half lengths ahead of Desert King. The performance was described by one national newspaper correspondent as "truly awesome". In his second attempt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe he started third favourite and again proved to be a clear second best, finishing five lengths behind Peintre Celebre, but two and a half lengths ahead of the rest of the field.

Two weeks later at Newmarket, Pilsudki was made evens favourite for his final European start in the Champion Stakes. Kinane held the horse up before switching him to the outside to obtain a clear run inside the final quarter of a mile. Pilsudki accelerated to catch and pass the French colt Loup Sauvage inside the final furlong and pulled away to win by two lengths. The Sunday Mirror described his win as "a demolition job" and Kinane paid tribute to the winner, saying that "they don't come any tougher than this horse - not only is he the toughest I've ridden, he's one of the best." On his final start, Pilsudski was sent to Tokyo for the Japan Cup. Pilsudki was held up in the early stages before producing a sustained run in the straight to take the lead inside the final furlong. In a "courageous, fibre-testing performance", he held off a strong late challenge from the Tenno Sho winner Air Groove to win by a neck.

Pilsudski was then retired from racing and was sent back to Japan to begin his stud career in January 1998.