Kauto Star may have won five King Georges but Dessie would never have let him get past! Also horses back then had longer and harder campaigns, 7-8 races a year sometimes.
"I always felt that Desert Orchid was the best horse I had ever seen — and don't forget that I won a King George on Best Mate, who also won three Gold Cups. But now Kauto Star is as good a horse as I have ever seen. If he's good enough for the Champion jockey he's good enough for me.
@ASupremeOwl According to no less a judge than the fifteen-times champion jockey, Tony McCoy, he can be judged better than even Desert Orchid.
Double Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star has brought jump racing into the public consciousness, much like the famous Desert Orchid before him, but McCoy feels Kauto Star has overtaken even Dessie in the greatness stakes:
Kauto Star would have beaten Dessie. I have heard endless romantacised comments about the grey. Truth is he beat some very average horses here. Check out the ratings guys, aint rocket science. Yes Dessie had heart but Kauto Star oozes class. King George that would have been a race. Again look at the record books. The stats are there. The handicapper doesnt really give old Dessie a chance against KS!
@TheHonestPlagiarist Not having that. Dessie beat some great horses. In his first KG he beat Door Latch by 15L, He beat Wayward Lad, Forgive and Forget, Combs Ditch, Bolands Cross all very good steeplechasers in there own right and that is indicated by Dessie's starting price of 16/1. Kauto Star as never ever given weight away like Dessie did in some of his races the Whitbread Gold Cup for example off level weights my money would have been with Dessie in the King George. Dessie was like...
@ASupremeOwl Even Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh have both stated that Kauto Star's timeform rating is ridiculous. Yes he won his 4th KG in some style but it was never a 191 display and he is certainly not a 4lb better horse than Dessie. Not in a million years. Kauto Star would never a Whitbread giving weight all round and winning off 11'11 it as never been done since. Dessie is the best since Arkle in my opinion...
@TheHonestPlagiarist Kauto Star and Denman all rolled into one. Class and Guts in abundance. Kauto Star is a brilliant racehorse but Dessie was a one off...
@551785 Ten Plus wouldn't have won it even if he hadn't have fallen at the third last - his jockey was 'rowing' way out before then and was having to pick up his stick whereas Yahoo and Dessie were still on the bridle. The race just shows Dessie's incredible bravery, carrying top weight on desperate ground on a course he loathed, can't see the likes of Kauto Star digging in to win faced with similar conditions.
I'd never heard of this horse until after he'd retired, as we didn't get any Northern Hemisphere racing on TV back then, but I have to take my hat off to any horse that can look beaten but still win. The commentary is very staid compared to ours here, but those last couple of hundred metres are very special indeed.
There was one race that sticks in my mind. I think it might have been the Victor Chandler. Dessie was giving lumps of weight to the top class horse Panto Prince. One of the best finishes I can recall to any NH race. Dessie won of course. I would love to see that again.
It was simply an incredible display of guts and determination. This horse just never knew when he was beaten. Yahoo was a mud lover the ground was bottomless Dessie hated Cheltenham. yet still he found something extra to get up. Magnificent racehorse. Never to be forgotten.
when peter o'sullivan starts saying desert orchid is beginning to get up sends shivers down my spine i expect the majority of the people watching were not bothered about their bets it was all about that magnificent horse it was like england winning the world cup i wanted to streak up the road starkers i was so delirious
Remebered this like yesterday actually no it seems like a lifetime and if was of age back then to bet (was thirteen at that point) would have placed ten pounds. Another legend or Desert Orchid.
One of the newspapers next day compared this performance to that of some British female tennis players taking part in a tournament abroad where they had been totally routed; they complained that everything had been wrong. The newspaper then compared the two and worked out that Desert Orchid had hated everything about the race, but still won; they called him a "hero". Dessie ran in a lot of races where he was never going to win, but he always gave it 100% and we were grateful and inspired.
Dessie was one of the best jump racers of all time. Just look at his record: 4 King Georges, a Whitbread, the Victor Chandler, an Irish National amongst other things. The reason the was probably his greatest win was because he hated heavy going, hated running left-handed, didn't mush like being passed in a race and he still had the courage and heart to get up and win. He is my heart horse in racing, no-one will ever replace him in my affections.
this was voted race of the century (racing post)by all the one-eyed dessie supporters. very sad when people can't see past their affection for the great grey. Ten Plus probably would have won had he not fallen and sadly had to be put down.
pretty disgustiing to have it voted race of the century when one of the main protaganists was killed.
@dayjur90 you plank....ten plus was under the pump when he fell. one-eyed dessie supporters???? he transcended the sport and his achievements are there for all to see. people just love to knock champions
@dayjur90 Bit harsh, It's just a reflection of the total devotion of the racing public to Dessie. He was the most beloved horse of a generation and not one voter would want to forget Ten Plus but in the end it was all about the a horse, his ghosts and his guts and how he won his toughest race in the toughest of conditions.
Thank you for that. Been looking for a full re-run of that race for ages. What a horse eh! Still my biggest bet ever to this day on the grey. Even though I had doubts, I believed in him.
wow.beautiful horse
ZenyattaLuvr 1 month ago
A louder roar than Kauto got at Kempton I reckon. By a couple of decibels at least! ;)
gutlesswonderfd 1 month ago 3
Kauto Star may have won five King Georges but Dessie would never have let him get past! Also horses back then had longer and harder campaigns, 7-8 races a year sometimes.
gutlesswonderfd 1 month ago
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sigmondball 2 months ago
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sigmondball 2 months ago
As for Arkle, based on 21st Century fitness and training methods, I'd be 100% confident KS would beat Arkle.
TheHonestPlagiarist 5 months ago
"I always felt that Desert Orchid was the best horse I had ever seen — and don't forget that I won a King George on Best Mate, who also won three Gold Cups. But now Kauto Star is as good a horse as I have ever seen. If he's good enough for the Champion jockey he's good enough for me.
TheHonestPlagiarist 5 months ago
@ASupremeOwl According to no less a judge than the fifteen-times champion jockey, Tony McCoy, he can be judged better than even Desert Orchid.
Double Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star has brought jump racing into the public consciousness, much like the famous Desert Orchid before him, but McCoy feels Kauto Star has overtaken even Dessie in the greatness stakes:
TheHonestPlagiarist 5 months ago
can you hear the scummy slimey bookies cheer the fall of carvills?
grincher2006 6 months ago 2
Kauto Star would have beaten Dessie. I have heard endless romantacised comments about the grey. Truth is he beat some very average horses here. Check out the ratings guys, aint rocket science. Yes Dessie had heart but Kauto Star oozes class. King George that would have been a race. Again look at the record books. The stats are there. The handicapper doesnt really give old Dessie a chance against KS!
TheHonestPlagiarist 6 months ago
@TheHonestPlagiarist we will never know
grincher2006 6 months ago
@TheHonestPlagiarist Not having that. Dessie beat some great horses. In his first KG he beat Door Latch by 15L, He beat Wayward Lad, Forgive and Forget, Combs Ditch, Bolands Cross all very good steeplechasers in there own right and that is indicated by Dessie's starting price of 16/1. Kauto Star as never ever given weight away like Dessie did in some of his races the Whitbread Gold Cup for example off level weights my money would have been with Dessie in the King George. Dessie was like...
ASupremeOwl 5 months ago
@ASupremeOwl Even Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh have both stated that Kauto Star's timeform rating is ridiculous. Yes he won his 4th KG in some style but it was never a 191 display and he is certainly not a 4lb better horse than Dessie. Not in a million years. Kauto Star would never a Whitbread giving weight all round and winning off 11'11 it as never been done since. Dessie is the best since Arkle in my opinion...
ASupremeOwl 5 months ago 2
@TheHonestPlagiarist Kauto Star and Denman all rolled into one. Class and Guts in abundance. Kauto Star is a brilliant racehorse but Dessie was a one off...
ASupremeOwl 5 months ago
@551785 Ten Plus wouldn't have won it even if he hadn't have fallen at the third last - his jockey was 'rowing' way out before then and was having to pick up his stick whereas Yahoo and Dessie were still on the bridle. The race just shows Dessie's incredible bravery, carrying top weight on desperate ground on a course he loathed, can't see the likes of Kauto Star digging in to win faced with similar conditions.
aberlioness 6 months ago
I Love the winner But would Ten+ have won ? Im am so glad this Grey hero won .
551785 7 months ago
dessie has done it! made me cry then still makes me cry now R.I.P old lad!
tommy1979ify 7 months ago
Yahoo who loves tha mud
forestcelt82 8 months ago
Can't help but keep watching this :)
Laytonia1977 8 months ago
what an incredible horse, never to be forgotten :-)<3
katherinepennels123 9 months ago
a lengendary horse called home by a legendary commentator!
manskin17 9 months ago
I'd never heard of this horse until after he'd retired, as we didn't get any Northern Hemisphere racing on TV back then, but I have to take my hat off to any horse that can look beaten but still win. The commentary is very staid compared to ours here, but those last couple of hundred metres are very special indeed.
emmelby 10 months ago
Those beautiful, velvety tones of Sir Peter, capture a special moment beautifully :)
Laytonia1977 10 months ago
Dessie has done it. Awesome commentating. Captures the moment perfectly
multipleman78 10 months ago 8
There was one race that sticks in my mind. I think it might have been the Victor Chandler. Dessie was giving lumps of weight to the top class horse Panto Prince. One of the best finishes I can recall to any NH race. Dessie won of course. I would love to see that again.
PunkersTV 11 months ago
It was simply an incredible display of guts and determination. This horse just never knew when he was beaten. Yahoo was a mud lover the ground was bottomless Dessie hated Cheltenham. yet still he found something extra to get up. Magnificent racehorse. Never to be forgotten.
PunkersTV 11 months ago 9
Comment removed
sigmondball 2 months ago
when peter o'sullivan starts saying desert orchid is beginning to get up sends shivers down my spine i expect the majority of the people watching were not bothered about their bets it was all about that magnificent horse it was like england winning the world cup i wanted to streak up the road starkers i was so delirious
TheDarksouvenir 11 months ago 2
Dessie was the best hors ever
stanwick71 11 months ago
Remebered this like yesterday actually no it seems like a lifetime and if was of age back then to bet (was thirteen at that point) would have placed ten pounds. Another legend or Desert Orchid.
starlight76able 1 year ago
One of the newspapers next day compared this performance to that of some British female tennis players taking part in a tournament abroad where they had been totally routed; they complained that everything had been wrong. The newspaper then compared the two and worked out that Desert Orchid had hated everything about the race, but still won; they called him a "hero". Dessie ran in a lot of races where he was never going to win, but he always gave it 100% and we were grateful and inspired.
malcs0 1 year ago
@malcs0 Beautifully put my friend :)
Laytonia1977 10 months ago
It was a career defining win this. He was a classy operator, but this victory was all about refusing to accept second best.
Nice Vid!
Jamie2462A 1 year ago
Greggles ten plus stayed all day he would have definitily got home up the hill...who knows
dailystar1 1 year ago
Dessie was one of the best jump racers of all time. Just look at his record: 4 King Georges, a Whitbread, the Victor Chandler, an Irish National amongst other things. The reason the was probably his greatest win was because he hated heavy going, hated running left-handed, didn't mush like being passed in a race and he still had the courage and heart to get up and win. He is my heart horse in racing, no-one will ever replace him in my affections.
lcsd114 1 year ago
this was voted race of the century (racing post)by all the one-eyed dessie supporters. very sad when people can't see past their affection for the great grey. Ten Plus probably would have won had he not fallen and sadly had to be put down.
pretty disgustiing to have it voted race of the century when one of the main protaganists was killed.
dayjur90 1 year ago
@dayjur90 you plank....ten plus was under the pump when he fell. one-eyed dessie supporters???? he transcended the sport and his achievements are there for all to see. people just love to knock champions
greggles1902 1 year ago
@dayjur90 Bit harsh, It's just a reflection of the total devotion of the racing public to Dessie. He was the most beloved horse of a generation and not one voter would want to forget Ten Plus but in the end it was all about the a horse, his ghosts and his guts and how he won his toughest race in the toughest of conditions.
Stanters1967 1 year ago
Thank you for that. Been looking for a full re-run of that race for ages. What a horse eh! Still my biggest bet ever to this day on the grey. Even though I had doubts, I believed in him.
shanklypaisleyrafa 1 year ago
amazing horse! even tho i had me money on yahoo, i was still made up dessie won! :)
therotatingchinmen 1 year ago 2
What a horse!
ASupremeOwl 1 year ago