The return of the Kentucky Kid

Before Montjeu's withdrawl, Steve Cauthen was describing today's Champion Stakes as "potentially as good a race as Europe has seen since Dancing Brave's Arc." That description may now have to be slightly diluted but the original point only emphasises the legendary American's qualifications to make such a statement. If he can't, who can?

After all Cauthen, tagged "the Kentucky Kid", arrived in Europe in 1979 and changed the very nature of race riding on this side of the pond.

With his ability to ride a race from the front, never better illustrated than in his two Epsom Derby victories, a generation of jockeys followed who believed that being at the front of race was not the same as being at the front of a leper colony.

A matchless big race temperament and an accessible personality made the jockey, who still holds the title of youngest ever Triple Crown winner, racing's favourite American. Then in 1992, aged just 32, he said enough was enough and retired.

Cauthen is visiting Dublin for today's race and when he talks about it, a double take is required to confirm he won't actually be taking part.

Sure some time would have to be spent in the dreaded sauna that terrorised Cauthen at his peak, but he still looks fit, still suavely cool and he is still flashing that wry grin which suggests the whole thing shouldn't really be taken that seriously.

The World Series sponsors, Emirates Airlines, have asked him to do some promotion at each of the race locations, something he is eminently qualified to do. Confidently articulate, Cauthen is suitably enthusiastic about racing's effort to emulate Formula 1 and is all the more convincing because he exudes such down-to-earth common sense.

"This series is a way to create interest and excitement. Look at the Ryder Cup for instance. I mean really it's just another damn golf thing, no big deal, but it creates excitement. If there is an Irish guy and an American guy watching it in a bar they will pick sides and bet 10 dollars on it.

"If we could get some of that nationalism behind this series, you will get people talking about it and racing will get recognition on television internationally," he argues.

It's clear that Cauthen, who regularly commentates on American television as well as running his own breeding operation, sees TV coverage as the way to highlight the sport to a mass audience. Yet with only two races on dirt, can a World Series attract the top US horses and the crucial North American market.

"Okay, so the likes of Silver Charm never raced on grass, but that's because he never had to. This is a process. Racing people are sportspeople, but they also now have an opportunity to show their horses around the world and gain in the breeding market. This gift horse has been put in front of their face and they have to try and grab it. I just hope owners and trainers show an open mind," Cauthen adds.

An open mind is very much what Cauthen had when he took his momentous decision to retire at such an young age. Employed by Sheikh Mohammed at the time, he appeared to have it all - but that was on the surface.

His epic defeat of Pat Eddery (197-195) in the 1987 jockeys' championship was the last of his three British titles and the effort of winning that, combined with his incessant battle with weight, made the day-to-day routine of race riding less than attractive. So how does he view his great rival Eddery who is still happily on that treadmill?

"I don't know if Pat has many other interests, but I had enough other things I was interested in to fill my life. And Pat doesn't have the weight problems I had. Controlling your weight is so difficult. Just look at the problems Walter Swinburn has endured. Lester did it for years, but that was all he wanted and he was fond of. . . you know," he grins, rubbing his fingers together in the universal gesture for cash.

The next buck is hardly an issue for Cauthen now, but he does appear to have an intense interest in the overall good of what he calls "the game" and how it is promoted.

"In the US, we are looking at how other sports have made themselves fan-friendly and that involves creating an image for their players. When I was riding, I regarded talking to the press or television as part of the job because we are trying to appeal to the public and the press is the way to the public. I suppose that's what I'm doing now for this race," Cauthen says.

He does it extremely well too and it's another indication of the depth of racing's loss when he followed his own path seven years ago. Cauthen in silks today would have added so much to an already intriguing race.