Mill Reef was an exceptional middle distance racehorse wining the Derby and the Prix de lArc de Triomphe in an illustrious horse racing career that was ended prematurely by injury after registering a record six successive Group One wins.
American philanthropist Paul Mellon bred and owned Mill Reef, who was sent to England to be trained by the young trainer Ian Balding at Kingsclere in 1970. By the stallion Never Bend out of the Princequillo mare Milan Mill, Mill Reef was judged to be too long in the pastern to race effectively on dirt in America.
Mill Reef soon showed his trainer that he was a remarkable talent and he duly won on his racecourse debut, romping home under jockey Geoff Lewis to win the Salisbury Stakes by an unextended four lengths at an unconsidered price of 8-1.
Mill Reef next ran in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, never coming under pressure as he stretched clear to win by eight lengths in a time only a fraction outside the track record.
Mill Reef was beaten on his next start in the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville, where a wide draw and a rough journey conspired against him. The Gimcrack Stakes at Yorks Ebor meeting in August was selected as his next target. Heavy overnight rain saw heavy ground on the Knavesmire and trainer and jockey were reluctant to run, but were overruled by Mellon, who had come to see Mill Reef in action for the first time.
In the event, Mill Reef put up one of the most memorable performances of his career, being quickly away before being asked to quicken after half way. In a breathtaking performance, he forged further and further clear of his rivals, passing the post ten lengths to the good, beating the likes of champion sprinter Green God and Classic winner Kings Company.
Mill Reef was only a narrow winner of the Imperial Stakes at Kempton, before a busy juvenile season concluded with a step up to six furlongs in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Lewis adopted different tactics here, settling Mill Reef behind the leaders before quickening sharply out of the dip to win going away by four lengths.
A Classic campaign beckoned at three, where Mill Reef would have to take on two other remarkable members of the crop of 1968 " My Swallow and Brigadier Gerard. The three lined up in an eagerly anticipated 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with Mill Reef sent off favourite after a comfortable warm-up win in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, ahead of My Swallow, who had been equally impressive in his trail at Kempton, and Brigadier Gerard who had sparkled on the gallops at West Ilsey.
In the event, Mill Reef and My Swallow both raced down the centre of the track at a pace that allowed Brigadier Gerard to make full use of his effective finishing kick on the rail to scorch clear up the hill, winning by three lengths from Mill Reef, with My Swallow third.
Of the three Guineas principals, Mill Reef was the only one with a Derby entry. Balding adopted the practice of Vincent OBrien with US-bred horses of giving him a gallop over a mile and a quarter10 days before the race, leaving the question of Mill Reefs stamina to be answered on Derby day itself. In the race, Mill Reef showed he was a middle distance horse par excellence, turning in in fourth place and quickening clear to beat Linden Tree and the subsequent Irish Derby winner Irish Ball.
Ian Balding decided to bypass the Irish Derby in favour of the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown as a prep for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, races in which Mill Reef would take on his elders for the first time.
At Sandown Mill Reef began to show that the class of 68 was superior to its rivals with a dominant victory over the four-year-old French raider Caro. The pair had gone clear from their rivals who set a blistering early pace, but Mill Reef found the most under pressure, quickening clear in the final furlong to win by four lengths in a course record time.
The King George later that month saw Mill Reef put in an even more dominant display, winning by six lengths and prompting jockey Geoff Lewis to say: Daylight was second at Ascot.
The Prix de lArc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October had not fallen to an English-trained horse for 23 years and this was selected as Mill Reefs autumn target. Mill Reef settled in fifth spot under Geoff Lewis before darting through a gap on the rail as the leaders tired in the straight. Mill Reef was soon clear, passing the post three lengths to the good setting yet another new track record in the process.
Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard were both given equal top rating by both the official handicapper and by Timeform. Unfortunately, the two rivals were destined never to meet again.
Mill Reef made his debut at four back at Longchamp in the Prix Ganay, where he proved utterly superior to his rivals, galloping effortlessly clear in the straight to a 10 length victory. The Coronation Cup at Epsom was his next race and Mill Reef failed to quicken in his usual style and had to fight hard in the latter stages to hold on by a neck from Homeric.
A virus was later identified as the cause of the poor run, and the Coronation Cup was to prove his last race " though his record of six successive Group One wins was to stand until Rock Of Gibraltar won seven in 2001-2002. Two setbacks in training saw a planned return at York abandoned. Brigadier Gerard, who had won the Eclipse in Mill Reefs absence, suffered his only defeat that day, beaten by Roberto.
Later in August, disaster struck. Mill Reef broke his near foreleg in a routine canter whilst being prepared for the Arc. Fortunately, Balding, his team and the vets were able to save Mill Reef, who went on to have a successful career at stud. He proved a successful sire, with 1978 a particular banner year when Shirley Heights won the Derby and Acamas won the Prix du Jockey Club. Mill Reef also sired the 1987 Derby winner Reference Point, the 1981 Derby runner-up and Italian Derby winner Glint Of Gold and the 1000 Guineas winner Fairy Footsteps. - 16887
American philanthropist Paul Mellon bred and owned Mill Reef, who was sent to England to be trained by the young trainer Ian Balding at Kingsclere in 1970. By the stallion Never Bend out of the Princequillo mare Milan Mill, Mill Reef was judged to be too long in the pastern to race effectively on dirt in America.
Mill Reef soon showed his trainer that he was a remarkable talent and he duly won on his racecourse debut, romping home under jockey Geoff Lewis to win the Salisbury Stakes by an unextended four lengths at an unconsidered price of 8-1.
Mill Reef next ran in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, never coming under pressure as he stretched clear to win by eight lengths in a time only a fraction outside the track record.
Mill Reef was beaten on his next start in the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville, where a wide draw and a rough journey conspired against him. The Gimcrack Stakes at Yorks Ebor meeting in August was selected as his next target. Heavy overnight rain saw heavy ground on the Knavesmire and trainer and jockey were reluctant to run, but were overruled by Mellon, who had come to see Mill Reef in action for the first time.
In the event, Mill Reef put up one of the most memorable performances of his career, being quickly away before being asked to quicken after half way. In a breathtaking performance, he forged further and further clear of his rivals, passing the post ten lengths to the good, beating the likes of champion sprinter Green God and Classic winner Kings Company.
Mill Reef was only a narrow winner of the Imperial Stakes at Kempton, before a busy juvenile season concluded with a step up to six furlongs in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Lewis adopted different tactics here, settling Mill Reef behind the leaders before quickening sharply out of the dip to win going away by four lengths.
A Classic campaign beckoned at three, where Mill Reef would have to take on two other remarkable members of the crop of 1968 " My Swallow and Brigadier Gerard. The three lined up in an eagerly anticipated 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with Mill Reef sent off favourite after a comfortable warm-up win in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury, ahead of My Swallow, who had been equally impressive in his trail at Kempton, and Brigadier Gerard who had sparkled on the gallops at West Ilsey.
In the event, Mill Reef and My Swallow both raced down the centre of the track at a pace that allowed Brigadier Gerard to make full use of his effective finishing kick on the rail to scorch clear up the hill, winning by three lengths from Mill Reef, with My Swallow third.
Of the three Guineas principals, Mill Reef was the only one with a Derby entry. Balding adopted the practice of Vincent OBrien with US-bred horses of giving him a gallop over a mile and a quarter10 days before the race, leaving the question of Mill Reefs stamina to be answered on Derby day itself. In the race, Mill Reef showed he was a middle distance horse par excellence, turning in in fourth place and quickening clear to beat Linden Tree and the subsequent Irish Derby winner Irish Ball.
Ian Balding decided to bypass the Irish Derby in favour of the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown as a prep for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, races in which Mill Reef would take on his elders for the first time.
At Sandown Mill Reef began to show that the class of 68 was superior to its rivals with a dominant victory over the four-year-old French raider Caro. The pair had gone clear from their rivals who set a blistering early pace, but Mill Reef found the most under pressure, quickening clear in the final furlong to win by four lengths in a course record time.
The King George later that month saw Mill Reef put in an even more dominant display, winning by six lengths and prompting jockey Geoff Lewis to say: Daylight was second at Ascot.
The Prix de lArc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October had not fallen to an English-trained horse for 23 years and this was selected as Mill Reefs autumn target. Mill Reef settled in fifth spot under Geoff Lewis before darting through a gap on the rail as the leaders tired in the straight. Mill Reef was soon clear, passing the post three lengths to the good setting yet another new track record in the process.
Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard were both given equal top rating by both the official handicapper and by Timeform. Unfortunately, the two rivals were destined never to meet again.
Mill Reef made his debut at four back at Longchamp in the Prix Ganay, where he proved utterly superior to his rivals, galloping effortlessly clear in the straight to a 10 length victory. The Coronation Cup at Epsom was his next race and Mill Reef failed to quicken in his usual style and had to fight hard in the latter stages to hold on by a neck from Homeric.
A virus was later identified as the cause of the poor run, and the Coronation Cup was to prove his last race " though his record of six successive Group One wins was to stand until Rock Of Gibraltar won seven in 2001-2002. Two setbacks in training saw a planned return at York abandoned. Brigadier Gerard, who had won the Eclipse in Mill Reefs absence, suffered his only defeat that day, beaten by Roberto.
Later in August, disaster struck. Mill Reef broke his near foreleg in a routine canter whilst being prepared for the Arc. Fortunately, Balding, his team and the vets were able to save Mill Reef, who went on to have a successful career at stud. He proved a successful sire, with 1978 a particular banner year when Shirley Heights won the Derby and Acamas won the Prix du Jockey Club. Mill Reef also sired the 1987 Derby winner Reference Point, the 1981 Derby runner-up and Italian Derby winner Glint Of Gold and the 1000 Guineas winner Fairy Footsteps. - 16887
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