Kayf Tara (GB)

Beautifully bred; raced twice as a 3yo for Sir Michael Stoute, winning impressively on the latter of those over 1m2f at Ascot in July 1997; started the next campaign under the banner of Godolphin and made an immediate impact, powering clear of a strong field to win a Haydock conditions event by 5l; upped considerably in trip and ran with real credit when third behind the very game Persian Punch in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown, a run which prompted connections to aim him at the Group 1 Gold Cup at Ascot over a marathon 2m4f; with stamina in abundance, the then 4yo showed great tenacity and class to get up to beat Double Trigger and comfortably turn the tables on his Sandown conqueror, after which he posted an excellent win in the Irish St Leger over 1m6f at the Curragh; made a winning return to action at five in the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at Longchamp and ran a solid third in the Ascot Gold Cup before winning his final three starts that year, including the Group 1 Irish St Leger by a remarkable 8l; forced to miss an engagement in the Melbourne Cup because of injury, he returned to the track at six and confirmed his place amongst the staying greats with a Group 2 Yorkshire Cup success capped by his second Ascot Gold Cup victory; he retired from racing having won 10 of his 15 lifetime starts and is a stallion at Overbury Stud