strong however, with Daylami being the only runner to have previously won a Group One event in Britain, France or Ireland. Most of the attention was drawn by the fact that Saeed bin Suroor was responsible for training Daylami, Faithful Son and Central Park, giving the Godolphin team first, second and third places in a Group One race. For his next start, he was moved up to the mile and a half distance for the first time in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in which he was ridden by Mick Kinane, Dettori having opted to ride Swain. Daylami started at 6/1 and ran up to expectations finishing fourth of the eight runners behind Swain, High-Rise and Royal Anthem. In September 1998, Daylami was sent to the US for the Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park. He raced close behind the leaders for most of the way, before being switched to the outside in the straight. He produced a strong late run to catch Buck's Boy in the closing stages and win by one and a quarter lengths. On his final European start of the year, Daylami was brought back to a mile and a quarter and was slightly disappointing, finishing third to the filly Alborada as the 6/5 favourite for the Champion Stakes. The horse was again sent in November 1999 to contest the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs but was withdrawn after becoming unwell on the morning of the race. The race was won by Buck's Boy. 1999: Five-year-old season Spring It is often assumed that thoroughbred racehorses reach their peak at the age of four a belief supported by the weight-for-age scale, which does not allow for any further improvement beyond that age. Daylami however, was still improving (see official ratings below) and in 1999 he had his best season in terms of wins and prize money. This vindicated the decision of his owners to keep him in training after they had decided that the horse had "more to give and... more to prove." It was also seen as part of a growing trend to keep top class flat racers in training for longer than had been the fashion in the 1970s and 1980s. His season did not start particularly well. In the Dubai World Cup he was badly hampered, and although staying on strongly, he could finish only fifth to Almutawakel. He