Giacometti (horse)

Before he appeared on a racecourse, Giacometti had built up a formidable reputation, and was reportedly regarded by Price as the best horse he had ever trained. He made his debut in the Mountfield Plate, a maiden race over six furlongs at Lingfield Park in June and started at odds of 4/6 in a fourteen-runner field. He led from the start and was never challenged, winning easily by a margin officially given as twelve lengths although the photo finish strip suggested that he had won by sixteen. The colt was then moved up in class for the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes over six furlongs at York Racecourse in August and started 11/10[3] favourite ahead of Dragonara Palace, the winner of the July Stakes and Richmond Stakes. Giacometti won again, but produced a disappointing performance, being ridden along by Tony Murray from the start and struggling to overcome Late Love by a length, with Music Maestro a head away in third. He was then moved up in distance for the Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse in September and started the 8/11[3] favourite. He took the lead two furlongs from the finish, and held off the late challenge of Snow Knight to win by a short head with Pitcairn in third.[4]

As a three-year-old, Giacometti was campaigned exclusively in Group One races. In the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket Racecourse he faced a strong field and finished second, beaten a length and a half by the French challenger Nonoalco, with the 4/9 favourite Apalachee in third, Northern Taste in fourth and Habat sixth. A month later, Giacometti started 5/2 second favourite behind Nonoalco for the 195th running of the Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. He settled just behind the leaders on the inside and turned into the straight in third place behind Snow Knight (a 50/1 outsider) and Imperial Prince. In the last quarter mile he was switched to the outside but could make no impact on the two leaders and finished third, beaten two lengths and a length by Snow Knight and Imperial Prince, just in front of the fast-finishing Bustino. Giacometti was matched against older horses for the first time in the Eclipse Stakes over ten furlongs at Sandown in July, and started favourite, but ran poorly and finished fifth of the twelve runners behind the 33/1 outsider Coup de Feu and the four-year-old Ksar. He was found to be suffering from a "blood disorder" and was off the course until autumn.[5]

Giacometti returned in September when he ran in the St Leger over fourteen and a half furlongs at Doncaster Racecourse, with Lester Piggott taking over the ride from Murray. Restrained at the back of the nine-runner field in the early stages, he made rapid progress in the straight, overtaking horse after horse, but was never able to reach the leader Bustino and finished second, beaten three lengths by the winner. His performance made him the first horse since Nijinsky to be placed in all three legs of the Triple Crown: the only other horses to have done so since 1945 have been Sayajirao in 1947, Nagami in 1958 and Camelot (2012). In October Giacometti started at odds of 4/1[3] on what was thought to be unsuitably soft ground, for the Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket. His task was eased by the withdrawal of Allez France, but he faced thirteen opponents including Coup de Feu, Ksar, Pitcairn (Goodwood Mile), Northern Gem (Pretty Polly Stakes) and Star Appeal. Piggott positioned the colt just behind the leaders before taking the advantage two furlongs from the finish. Giacometti never looked in any danger of defeat and won by two and a half lengths from Northern Gem with Pitcairn in third.[5]

On his first appearance as a four-year-old, Giacometti contested the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May and was beaten half a length by Rymer in a slowly-run race. In June at Royal Ascot he started favourite for the Prince of Wales's Stakes, but was beaten into third place behind Record Run and Swell Fellow. He did not race again and was retired from competition at the end of the season.[6]