in any country. I would like to see a match race. I would even put up my money". 1974: four-year-old season Spring Dahlia took time to reach her best form in 1974. She was well beaten by Allez France in her first two starts, finishing fourth in the Prix d'Harcourt on 15 April and fifth in the Prix Ganay three weeks later. In June she resumed her international campaign at Epsom Downs Racecourse for the Coronation Cup over one and a half miles. She looked unimpressive in the pre-race paddock as she had done in her previous race. She was given what was described by Timeform as a "preposterous task" by her jockey as she trailed the field by many lengths in the early stages before making progress in the straight and finishing third behind Buoy and Tennyson. Summer Yves Saint-Martin took over the ride when Dahlia started favourite for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud over 2500 metres on 7 July. In a change of tactics she was in the first two throughout the race and won by a neck from On My Way. Three weeks later the filly attempted to become the first horse to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes for a second time. Ridden by Lester Piggott, she started 15/8 favourite against nine opponents including Highclere, Snow Knight, Dankaro, Buoy, Card King, Orsa Maggiore (Oaks d'Italia) and Hippodamia (entered as a pacemaker for Dahlia). Piggott restrained the filly towards the rear as Hippodamia set a strong pace from Snow Knight and Buoy, before moving up to fourth on the final turn. She accelerated into the lead approaching the final furlong and won by two and a half lengths from Highclere. Timeform commented that she had "cantered home on the bit, without Piggot's having to move a muscle". Despite reports that she would spend the rest of the season in North America, Dahlia was back in England in August and started 8/15 favourite for the third edition of the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup over ten and a half furlongs at York Racecourse. Highclere and Snow Knight were again in the field along with Imperial Prince (runner-up in the Epsom and Irish Derbies), whilst Hippodamia was again there to set the pace. Dahlia, ridden again Piggott, had some difficulty obtaining a clear run in the straight before taking the lead a furlong and a half