PartialLogo
Comment
premium

Comparing greats is part of sport's magic so let the Flightline debate rumble on

Flightline and Flavien Prat are led into the winner's circle after the Breeders' Cup Classic
Flightline and Flavien Prat are led into the winner's circle after the Breeders' Cup ClassicCredit: Edward Whitaker

The well-worn adage that comparison is the thief of joy may ring true in our everyday lives – but it should definitely not apply to racing, or indeed any sport.

Following Flightline's jaw-dropping demolition job in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, some dared to compare him to Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner and historic poster boy of US racing, while the braver among us put forward Frankel as a yardstick.

As is customary in such harmless debates, this was swiftly shot down by many on social media who insist we should exclusively appreciate Flightline for his own achievements rather than measure him against the exploits of past champions.

Read the full story

Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.

Subscribe to unlock
  • Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
  • Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
  • Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
  • Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
  • Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
  • Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Subscribe

Already a subscriber?Log in

author image
Reporter of the year

Published on inComment

Last updated

iconCopy