ANILIN. For a few readers of a certain vintage this name might ring a bell. Half a century ago this horse, bred in what was then known as the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) or the Soviet Union, made quite a splash on the world stage when he travelled to Germany for the Preis von Europa over a mile and a half and ran out the facile winner.

Such was his overwhelming domination of the race betting that punters only got their wager back when he won. Why was a runner from Russia such a hot-pot? Well, in his previous start he was fifth in one of the greatest fields for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, won by the great Sea-Bird. His run in Paris was something of an afterthought as he had to be brought by road for his forays in Europe. Immediately behind him in the Arc was Tom Rolfe, while the Irish Derby winner Meadow Court was ninth.

Known forever as the horse of the century in his native land, Anilin first came to international attention as a three-year-old when he won the Derby and was invited to America – quite something at the time – to compete in the Washington D.C. International at Laurel. There he ran third behind the outstanding duo of Kelso and Gun Bow.

Anilin received an invitation to Laurel again in 1965 but the Ministry of Agriculture insisted he returned to Moscow and he went into winter quarters as the winner of 14 of his 18 starts until then. He was not finished with international racing however and travelled back to Cologne for the next couple of years, winning the Preis von Europe again in 1966 and 1967. As a five-year-old he went one place closer too in the Washington D.C. International, finishing runner-up to Behistoun, with Assagai third.

RETIRE

It had been expected that Anilin would retire to Voskhod Stud where he was bred at the end of his five-year-old season but he made a belated reappearance as a six-year-old in Berlin where he won the Budapest Prize. Following another win at the racecourse in Hoppegarten he was sent again to compete in the Arc, this time with no success. His final race was the 1967 Preis von Europa and he went out in a blaze of glory.

In a career that spanned five seasons and encompassed 28 starts, Anilin finished out of the first three once as a juvenile and twice in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

While his pedigree would be unfamiliar to most, he was a horse bred to be a multiple champion. He emulated his own sire Element when he won the Russian Derby, his sire having done so 60 years ago. Element won half of his 26 starts and he was a son of the French-bred Etalon D’Or. Anilin’s dam Analogichnaya was also a classic winner and she was the best three-year-old filly of 1956. Her six wins from 10 starts at two and three years included the Oaks.

Etalon D’Or had a most interesting life. A son of the Ascot Gold Cup and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Massine, he raced in France and won five times, though his best effort was his third-place finish in the Grand Prix de Paris. He was sent to stud in Germany and then stood in Austria where he was captured by the Russians. Element was easily his best offspring.

While Anilin’s racing career is well documented, his subsequent career is not. What is known is that he was just a shade under 16.3 hands, had a 72 inch girth and possessed eight inches of bone.