My Swallow

My Swallow began his racing career with a three length victory in the Zetland Stakes over five furlongs at York Racecourse in May and then winning the Woodcote Stakes over six furlongs at Epsom in early June.[3]

For the rest of the season, My Swallow was campaigned exclusively in France. He began his French campaign in late June when he won the Prix du Bois over 1000 metres at Longchamp Racecourse by four length from Primaticcio. In July at Maisons-Laffitte Racecourse he contested the Prix Robert Papin over 1100m in which he was matched against the American-bred, British-trained colt Mill Reef, who had won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot by eight lengths. The two British challengers drew clear of the field in the closing stages, with My Swallow (ridden by Lester Piggott), prevailing by a short head after a "magnificent duel".[4] A month later at Deauville Racecourse Piggott rode My Swallow to victory in the Prix Morny over 1200m, beating Impertinent by two lengths.

In September, My Swallow was moved up in distance for the Prix de la Salamandre over 1400m at Longchamp where he was opposed by Swing Easy, an unbeaten colt who had won the New Stakes, July Stakes and Richmond Stakes.[5] He won the race by three and a half length from the filly La Mie au Roy and Swing Easy in a time of 1:22.2. My Swallow's last race of 1970 was France's most prestigious event for juveniles, the Grand Critérium over 1600m at Longchamp in October.[6] He claimed his seventh consecutive race by winning from Bonami and Marche Persan, and ended the year as the top-rated two-year-old in Britain and France. He was the fifth horse, and the first since Nirgal in 1945 to win the Prix Robert Papin, Prix Morny and Grand Critérium:[3] none of the previous four winners of this treble, however, had also won the Prix de la Salamandre. His earnings of over £88,000 set a record for a two-year-old trained in Europe.[7]

My Swallow's three-year-old season began with a win against moderate opposition in the Usher Stakes over seven furlongs at Kempton Park Racecourse in April.[8] He then contested an exceptionally strong renewal of the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket Racecourse. He was opposed again by Mill Reef, who had been unbeaten since the Prix Robert Papin, winning the Gimcrack Stakes, Dewhurst Stakes and Greenham Stakes. My Swallow was ridden by Frankie Durr, having been rejected by Piggott in favour of the Vincent O'Brien-trained Minsky, a full-brother of Nijinsky.[7] Also in the field was Brigadier Gerard, undefeated in four races including the Middle Park Stakes. Mill Reef started favourite at 6/4, with My Swallow on 2/1 and Brigadier Gerard on 11/2. My Swallow led from the start before being challenged by Mill Reef a quarter of a mile from the finish and the two colts raced side by side throughout the closing stages. Neither of them, however, had any response when Brigadier Gerard challenged along the rail. Brigadier Gerard won easily by three lengths, with Mill Reef beating My Swallow by three-quarters of a length for second.[9]

In June, My Swallow returned to France and was matched against older horses in the Group Three Prix de la Porte Maillot over 1400m at Longchamp. He finished second, beaten six lengths by the four-year-old Faraway Son. My Swallow was brought back in distance in the following month for the weight-for-age July Cup (then a Group Two race) over six furlongs at Newmarket on 8 July.[10] Ridden by Piggott, he finished second of the eight runners behind the four-year-old Realm.[3]