two-year-old season She raced on turf in Europe, and during her career, few could successfully compete with her over the grass. As a two-year-old, she won the Prix Yacowlef over 1000 metres at Deauville Racecourse on her racecourse debut. She finished fifth in her next two races before ending her campaign with a second place behind Begara in the Prix des Réservoirs over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. 1973: three-year-old season Spring Dahlia began her second season in April in the Prix de la Grotte, a trial for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches over 1600 metres at Longchamp, and won easily from Gay Style. In the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches she faced the leading French filly Allez France for the first time. She finished third of the eleven runners, beaten two and a half lengths and a neck by Allez France and Princess Arjumand. On 20 May Dahlia was moved up in distance when she faced Princess Arjumand again in the Prix Saint-Alary over 2000 metres at Longchamp: the favourite for the race however, was Virunga who was unbeaten in two races. Ridden as usual by Bill Pyers, and starting at 5.4/1, Dahlia overtook Virunga early in the straight and won by one and a half lengths, with Kashara taking third ahead of Princess Arjumand. In the Prix de Diane at Chantilly Racecourse on 10 June, Dahlia faced a rematch with Allex France, who had run poorly in the Prix Lupin. She again proved no match for her rival but finished four lengths clear of the other 23 runners, including Virunga. Summer On her next appearance, Dahlia was again moved up in distance when she was sent to Ireland for the Irish Oaks over one and a half miles at the Curragh on 21 July. The British filly Mysterious started odds on favourite after wins in the 1000 Guineas and The Oaks, whilst Dahlia was second choice on 8/1 alongside the Pretty Polly Stakes winner Hurry Harriet. Dahlia moved up to challenge Mysterious a quarter of a mile from the finish, overtook the favourite a furlong out and drew away to win easily by three lengths. A week after her win in Ireland, Dahlia took on older horses for the first time in Britain's most prestigious weight-for-age race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. She started at odds of 10/1 in a twelve-runner field which