'It's Stravinsky by a mile!' A July Cup victory that took the breath away

The summer of 1999 was distinguished by some stunning performances at the highest level, but none took the breath away in quite the manner of Stravinsky in the Darley July Cup.

Though largely unheralded beforehand, following two underwhelming efforts as Aidan O'Brien tried to stretch his stamina, Stravinsky stepped up his game dramatically at Newmarket for a drop in distance and the application of visors. Indeed he proved himself in a class of his own.

This was a high-quality July Cup too. The 13 Pattern winners in a field of 17 included the recent winners of the King's Stand and Cork and Orrery Stakes (now Diamond Jubilee) at Royal Ascot, as well as the Duke of York and the previous year's Nunthorpe. There was also a top-class filly who had been placed in the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes and started favourite.