Chalk this up to Zilzal; Improving Sussex hero Among Men was a cheap buy out of an unraced mare.

THE Sussex Stakes has provided some marvellous races over the years, first as a contest for three-year-olds only, then (1960-74) for three- and four-year-olds, and since 1975 for three-year-olds and upwards. We have become used to witnessing confrontations between the top milers of both sexes and of all ages, sometimes from two or three countries, in the perfect racecourse setting on a glorious summer's day.

Sadly, it was not like that in 1998. The Guineas winners who had looked so exciting less than three months before were absentees, one definitely retired, the other probably so. The-supposedly-best older miler (himself still unproven above Group 2 level) was also missing, and the better able to enhance his reputation by staying in his box.

On top of that, three of the four runners with previous Group 1 credits turned in dull efforts, Starborough clearly lacking last year's zip, Tarascon and Victory Note doing nothing to advertise the Irish and French spring Classic form.

Still, let's take nothing away from Among Men. He has been threatening to make his mark at the top level since his impressive debut victory in a Newmarket maiden 15 months ago, he has got there in spite of a couple of setbacks on the way, and if it is tempting to assume he is not really of Group 1 calibre, it is also more than possible we have yet to see his best.

The almost automatic reaction to Among Men's victory in some quarters was to regard Intikhab as some kind of moral winner on the grounds that he had beaten the Stoute colt by eight lengths at Royal Ascot. It may be an old-fashioned view, but I am inclined to prefer the evidence of up-to-date form by horses who turn up for their engagements rather than to reflect on past performances by those who duck them for whatever reason.

The Among Men who scored an emphatic win at Goodwood last Wednesday was an improved version of the Among Men decisively defeated at Ascot. He has still had only nine races in his life, he has put his troubles behind him, and he is beginning to compile a record appropriate for one of the best `lookers' of his generation.

For nigh on three centuries breeders have mated horses on the principle that like begets like, and as often as not the results have failed to establish that principle as a reliable rule. Among Men does his bit to restore some faith in the notion; he is a natural miler with a fine turn of foot, and he is a free sweater, just like his father before him.

Of course, he is not an exact facsimile of Zilzal, and in some respects that is perhaps just as well. Zilzal's antics before the start of his races always suggested a nervous breakdown was imminent, but until the Breeders' Cup he competed genuinely and impeccably; he recorded five wins from as many starts, securing the British mile championship at Goodwood and the European title at Ascot.

His reputation soared when he won the Sussex Stakes (though two of his supposed chief rivals, Warning and Shaadi, ran nowhere near their best form) and rose again when he trounced Polish Precedent by three lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Although Zilzal's fallibility was finally established at Gulfstream Park, where he offered all the usual excuses for English Breeders' Cup failures and one or two more besides, the official European handicappers rated him joint-best (with Old Vic) of his year and Timeform delivered an even more flattering assessment with a barely credible mark of 137.

Zilzal's stud record to date is not wildly exciting, but allowing for the circumstances of his career, it is highly creditable and appears to be progressive. His fertility at the outset was disappointing, with only 14 foals in his first crop, and he never had more than 31 in any of his first six (all conceived in Kentucky), though his proportion of successful covers improved steadily. He has been stopping his mares readily enough since his transfer to Lanwades, where he has just completed his third season.

AMONG Men comes from his fourth crop, along with Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine Always Loyal and Eclipse runner-up Faithful Son, and whereas the other pair were both out of mares who owned excellent credentials, he is more obviously a credit to his sire, being the product of an unraced mare from a family of no great distinction. He cost only $55,000 at Keeneland's September yearling sale.

Questionablevirtue, who has apparently produced only the one runner to date, is a half-sister to Deposit Ticket, a Northern Baby colt who excelled as a two-year-old (when his three Graded wins included the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes) and was unimpressive thereafter. Four other half-siblings realised more than $1m between them as yearlings, but have repaid barely a 10th of that sum in earnings.

Propositioning, Questionablevirtue's dam, won three of her six starts in France and had her best moment there as runner-up in Pampabird's Prix du Rond-Point. Less than a fortnight later she ran third to Sabin in a Grade 3 at Meadowlands, but it was all downhill from there; she never won in 14 American starts.

Sired by Mr Prospector when he was still a stallion of no repute in Florida, Propositioning was the only stakes-calibre performer out of nine foals produced by Stay Over, a modest winner whose full brother With Evidence was intermittently sound, managing only nine starts in four seasons, but runner-up in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship on one of his good days.

PEDIGREE ASSESSMENT

SIRE: ZILZAL

Bred by Kentucky Select Bloodstock I. $750,000 Keeneland July yearling. Unraced at 2 years, won 5 (7-8f) of 6 races at 3 years, inc. Jersey Stakes-Gr3, Criterion Stakes-Gr3, Sussex Stakes-Gr1, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes-Gr1. Earned pounds 397,607. Timeform 137 at 3. European champion 3-y-o miler.

Medium-sized (16.0hh), quite attractive. Lightly-raced, quick-actioned, with an excellent turn of foot. Ran only on a sound surface. Usually sweated and often troublesome before his races, but a genuine and consistent performer, among the best milers of recent years.

Well-bred, by a leading international sire out of a Gr2 winner. Grand- dam stakes-placed winner of 3 races, also grand-dam of other Gr1 winners Polish Precedent, Awe Inspiring and Culture Vulture.

Stands at Lanwades Stud, Newmarket, at a fee of pounds 10,000 (live foal). Sire of 6 crops of racing age, inc. notable winners: Zilzal Zamaan (Gr3), Shaanxi (Gr2), Nero Zilzal (Gr3), Always Loyal (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches- Gr1), Among Men (Sussex Stakes-Gr1), Faithful Son (Gr2).

DAM: QUESTIONABLEVIRTUE

Bred by Leone J. Peters. Unraced.

Half-sister to Gr1 2-y-o winner Deposit Ticket (c by Northern Baby), to Listed-placed Liyakah (f by Ogygian) and to 3 lesser winners.

Dam won 3 races, Gr3-placed in France and USA, half-sister to 3 winners of little account. Grand-dam won 3 races, half-sister to stakes-placed winner With Evidence. 3rd dam smart stakes winner, half-sister to 2 other stakes winners.

To stud at 4 years and dam of: Lahy (1993 c by Zilzal; unraced), Among Men (1994 c by Zilzal; Gr1 winner), Camilla B. (1995 f by Chief's Crown; unraced), Code Silver (1996 f by Lost Code; unraced to date). She has a yearling colt by Chief's Crown, sold for $37,000 at 1997 Keeneland November Sale.

CONCLUSION

An extremely good-looking colt, now establishing himself as one of the best milers around. Probably still on the upgrade.

AMONG MEN (b c, 7-3-1994)

Zilzal

(ch 1986)

Questionablevirtue

(b 1987)

Nureyev

French Charmer 

Key to the Mint

Propositioning

Northern Dancer

Special

Le Fabuleux

Bold Example

Graustark

Key Bridge

Mr Prospector

Stay Over

Nearctic

Natalma

Forli

Thong

Wild Risk

Anguar

Bold Lad

Lady Be Good

Ribot

Flower Bowl

Princequillo

Blue Banner

Raise a Native

Gold Digger

Prove It

Don't Linger

Nearco

Lady Angela

Native Dancer

Almahmoud

Aristophanes

Trevisa

Nantallah

Rough Shod 

Rialto 

Wild Violet

Verso 

La Rochelle

Bold Ruler

Misty Morn

Better Self

Past Eight

Tenerani

Romanella

Alibhai

Flower Bed

Prince Rose Cosquilla

War Admiral

Risque Blue

Native Dancer

Raise You

Nashua

Segula

Endeavour

Time to Khal

Nigromante

So Regards

Bred by Gail Beitz & Gainsborough Farm. $55,000 Keeneland Sept yearling.