LIGHT CASTS SHADOW OVER GALILEO

Galileo lost his unbeaten record but racegoers were served a real treat as Fantastic Light prevailed in an epic renewal of the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, writes Alan Magee.

This was always going to be a tactical affair with Aidan O`Brien and Saeed bin Suroor saddling five of the seven runners, and most observers agreed afterwards that Godolphin executed a superior battle plan.

Fantastic Light`s regular pacemaker, Give The Slip, set off at a sensible gallop, in contrast to Ice Dancer who blitzed through the opening six furlongs. Frankie Dettori always had Fantastic Light in sight of his hare, riding his own race rather than shadow Galileo as he did previously in the King George at Ascot.

This left Dettori in pole position rounding the home turn and, even though Galileo ranged alongside at the furlong pole, it was Fantastic Light who found a bit extra in the final pulsating strides.

`The King George was some battle, but this took the mickey out of the King George`, declared Dettori before adding, `He`s been to a fight, and this time the old man came out on top`. Godolphin`s racing manager Simon Crisford said, `It was the most special race, and fulfilled all expectations`, while O`Brien commented, `Galileo ran a very good race, but we probably didn`t get our tactics perfectly right`.

A third match up is on the cards in the Breeders Cup Classic at Belmont next month. The pair share 3/1 favouritism for that race, and are also tied on 18 points at the head of the Emirates World Series.

Dundalk racecourse closed its gates on Wednesday for at least a couple of years. The north-eastern venue is to undergo a major face-lift, which will incorporate greyhound racing. The ambitious multi-million pound project is to be partly financed by a hotel and housing development, but it will need plenty of goodwill and hard work to make the plan become reality.

However the track is strategically located between the two main cities on our island, and upgrading of the road network in the area is another positive asset. The crumbling facilities have mirrored the decline of this course in recent years, and it would be encouraging for the future if the local business community gets behind the project. Hopefully we can look forward to a revamped Dundalk in 2004.

One of the pleasing aspects of this Flat season has been the increased number of women jockeys making an impact. It is not so long ago when Joanna Morgan ploughed a lone furrow for the fairer sex, but there is certainly strength in depth among the current generation.

Victoria Hughes did her bit for `girl power` when partnering Osprey Ridge to a high profile victory in the valuable Cambridgeshire Handicap at the Curragh last Sunday, while Mary Williamson, Christine Walsh, Rachel Costello, Jayne Mulqueen and Catherine Gannon have also visited the winner`s enclosure this term. Indeed the latter has amassed eight wins so far this season, and the amount of outside rides she gets is a testament to her increasing stature within the sport.

The government green light for the resumption of the point-to-point season will have come as a big relief to everyone involved. The increased incidence of foot and mouth disease in Britain had again threatened to halt the action between the flags, but Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, has given the go ahead subject to precautions laid out by an expert group. There are 33 meetings planned for the remainder of this year, beginning on September 29.

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