50 years since Nijinsky was beaten in the Arc today-greatest ever upset?

Today we mark the 50th anniversary of the defeat of Nijinsky 11 in the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe.Racing historians debate the true cause of the reversal.It was the equivalent of Napoleon losing at Waterloo or an emperor like Alexandra being defeated or de-throned.No horse had taken invincibilty to such metaphysical proportions as Nijinsky or was ever as charismatic.It would certainly carve a permanent niche amongst sport’s saddest defeats.When returning to the enclosure the scene was reminscent of the funeral of a famous statesman with the faces of racing fans written with sadness and bewilderment at a crescendo.

He was simply head and shoulders above any racehorse in the world which he demonstrated at Royal Ascot in the King George where he beat the very best in a waltz.By winning the Arc Nijinsky would have achieved turf immortality winning the triple crown,King George ,Irish Derby and Arc which no horse has done till this very day.Nijinsky was simply the epitome of racing perfection delivering a knockout punch of Muhammad Ali.No racehorse was as much a manifestation of the energy of the divine,producing such majestic strides on a racetrack.When you take into account that Nijinsky won 4 times coming over from Ireland unlike Sea Bird and Ribot,one understand why many considered him the best of all time.

I am convinced that the Nijinsky of the King George of 1970 would have devoured the field of the 1970 Arc by atleast 3 lengths.Inspite of a triple handicap of exhaustion,faulty riding and disease Nijinsky came within a head of winning.Morally Nijinsky would have been rated the greatest flat racehorse of all time as he would have achieved what the likes of Mill Reef or Sea the Stars never did,or even Shergar or Dancing Brave for that matter.Inspite of being in the depths of despair at the beginning of the straight with a wall of horses in front, Nijinsky magnificiently resurrected to come within touching distance of a famous win.Tragically after hitting the front 100 yhards out it veered to the left to let French Derby winner Sassafras pass him.

To me what cost Nijinsky the Arc was the erroneous riding by Lester Piggot who gave him too much to do in the straight and moving him to wide out to unleash his final burst.At the bend he only had 3 horses behind him.Instead of lying with the pace Lester virtually kept his ward towards the rear and placed overemphasis on tracking Gyr as well as some mediocre colts.French Derby winner Saasafras,was literally taken for granted.Lester contradicted the instructions of trainer Vincent O’Brien who advised him to lie with the field,on the basis of his experience.O’Brien was convinced that Nijinsky would have won if the riding tactics had been correct.In his view Piggot did not understand that the course of Longchamp had different characteristics than those of Epsom ,Curragh and Ascot where his colt had displayed devastating acceleration.

I am also convinced that had Nijinsky not run in the Leger he would have won the Arc.It simply took the toll out of him like a car with it’s petrol tank almost emptied.He won,but hardly displaying the earlier conviction,with hardly any reserves at the end.

The bout of ringworm Nijinsky suffered had an adverse effect and robbed him of a lot of hair and his flanks were considerably marred.It prevented him from being his best in the Leger and subsequently robbed him of victory the Arc.At the end of the season Nijinsky was simply a burnt boat,losing the champion Stakes.

Timeform feels that on merit Nijinsky was only 3lb ahead of French Derby winner Sassafras,but late commentator Julian Wilson feels that on merit Nijinsky was atleast 5lb better or even racing post.In the view of Timeform the distances with which he beat Gyr and Blakeney in the Arc were about on par with Nijinsky at his best.In the Arc Nijinsky did beat Blakeney by 4 lengths and increased the margin he beat Sea Bird’s son Gyr in the Derby.However Gyr was simply not at his best in the Arc and if he wanted Nijinsky could have devoured Blakeney by atleast 6 lengths if he wished in the King George.

Ironically it is also the 25th anniversary of Nijinsky’s son Lammtaara avenging his father’s defeat in the Arc.The colt displayed courage of a great war admiral thwarting of a tough challenge from Freedom Cry.In contrast to his father,Lammtarra had perfect temperament,winning the 3 greatest races in a season without any preparation.He did not have his father’s talent but was endowed with the quality of great resilience.

Had Nijinsky won the Arc should he have been rated ahead of Sea Bird and Mill Reef or even Sea the Stars today?Personally I would disagree.Afterall he did not face as great opponents or won as convincingly as Sea Bird or Mill Reef.Nor did he exude the temperament of Sea the Stars.Nevertheless in terms of public impact he was the ultimate champion.