The story of Mill Reef - John Oaksey

Over the last few years Aurum has re-published three classic biographies of great racehorses: Arkle, Desert Orchid and Red Rum - all courageous, indefatigable National Hunt horses who won the big, gruelling steeplechases. Now, for the fourth title in the series, Aurum publishes the story of one of Britains greatest flat racing horses, Mill Reef, a magnificent athlete that enjoyed a short, meteoric career tragically truncated by injury.

Owned by the wealthy American Paul Mellon, in one year, 1971, Mill Reef won the Derby, the French Prix de lArc de Triomphe, the Eclipse Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. A further glittering run in 1972, when he had already won the Coronation Cup, was shockingly curtailed when Mill Reef was found to have broken a leg. But then his story had an extraordinary happy ending: he was not destroyed: remarkable medical treatment saved and healed his leg and saw him go on to a priceless stud career. John Oakseys book is an affectionate and enthralling chronicle by one of racings best-loved characters.