Between now and November 4 Breeders' Cup, we are going to be bombarded by comparisons of Dubai Millennium and just about every other top racehorse--past and present.

	Jerry Bailey rode Dubai Millennium to victory in the June 21 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

My fervent hope is that Dubai Millennium stays healthy, because it will give racing fans in the United States a chance to see one of the best horses ever. Yes, ever.

When one talks about Secretariat, your mind's eye seems to zero in on his performance in the Belmont Stakes. But just step back a bit and remember that Secretariat was not only a legendary performer on the dirt, but was also one of the best turf runners to compete in North America--ever.

It is really a shame that Secretariat only ran on the grass in his last two career starts. He was magnificent in the Man o' War, where he was never headed in humiliating such warriors as Tentam and Big Spruce. And he set a new stakes and track record in the process!

His performance at Woodbine in the Canadian International was also breathtaking. I called the race for CBS Radio from a corner of the press box, and can still see Big Red bumping with Kennedy Road on the far turn. But with darkness setting in, the 3-year-old Secretariat drew off to lead by a dozen lengths as he turned for home. Eddie Maple--who rode because regular jockey Ron Turcotte was suspended due to a riding infraction-- has since said he was glad just to get the champion to the finish line, since he was under such pressure.

Secretariat was named Turf Champion in 1973 because of those two great grass performances. The point of all this is that since Secretariat, Dubai Millennium is the only horse to be so dominant at the highest level of competition on both turf and dirt.

Is Dubai Millennium another Secretariat? No--at least not yet. But he gives us that elusive promise. Knowing that the ultimate goal for Godolphin Racing is to win the world's most prestigious races--and finally getting the respect and applause of American racing insiders--you know that they have their sights set on The Breeders' Cup Classic. That should make any horseplayer's mouth water. Especially in a year that brought us Fusaichi Pegasus, and the real prospect of this ultimate showdown under the spires.

There is no question that Dubai Millennium is very good, but the serious question repeated over and over in the European racing press is "how good?"

If you saw the video of last year's Group I Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, you saw an eye-popping victory over an Ascot grass course labeled "heavy." It left one wondering how good he could be. His margin of victory that late September afternoon was a very easy six lengths.

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor brought the mighty colt back to the races this year in Dubai at Nad Al Sheba in early March. With Frankie Dettori again in the saddle, the now 4-year-old toyed with a field of locals that included Godolphin's $3.2 million purchase Comeonmom. Dubai Millennium quickened from third and won by 4-1/2 at the wire.

But it was the tally in The $6 million Dubai World Cup over 13 world-class runners that stamped this horse with greatness. He put Behrens away by six lengths in a display of speed and stamina that you will not forget. I watched the race at Turfway Park (where we were getting ready to televise the Spiral Stakes on ESPN). The mile and a quarter dance in the desert was so impressive that even jaded railbirds and Cincinnati newcomers were scratching their heads--trying to find superlatives early that Saturday morning--as Dubai Millennium showed his stuff on a dirt racetrack.

But his royal romp at Royal Ascot in the June 21 Prince of Wales's Stakes will be one of a handful of races I will take to my grave. Jerry Bailey, who had never ridden in England, was brought over from America because Godolphin's first call rider--Frankie Dettori--was injured in a horrific plane crash in early June. How good was Dubai Millennium that day? Well, Dettori was in the paddock just prior to the race with a large cast on his right foot. He was sixteen pounds overweight by his own admission. I am fully convinced that Frankie could have climbed aboard Dubai Millennium in top hat, tail coat, plaster cast and the sixteen pounds of overweight and still won The Prince of Wales's Stakes.

As it was, we saw Jerry give us his version of the flying victory dismount originated by Angel Cordero, Jr. and made a staple of Frankie's Grade I celebrations. It was great fun, for Jerry and the fans.

The colt has now won nine of his 10 lifetime starts, his only loss coming in the 1999 English Derby, where he roared from ninth to finish third. That loss came over a year ago. I can forgive and forget.

Dubai Millennium's owner Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum has said "this is the best horse I have ever seen or had." I believe him. He also had great vision. Originally the horse's name was Yaazer, but Sheikh Mohammed changed it prior to his racing career.

How good could Dubai Millennium be? Well, I hope they nominate him to and run him in both the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf and the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic! That way Bailey could partner with him on the turf and Dettori could pilot him on the dirt. And it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he did manage to take both races--Dubai Millennium has been that good this year. I can't wait for Breeders' Cup XVII.