他望着记分牌上那个巨大的"2"字，又看向那个把第三名甩得无影无踪的差距，长叹一声，用力拍了拍栏杆。
北欧神话中，诸神的黄昏是众神与巨人同归于尽的终末之战。
而在这片皇家草坪上，一匹来自东方的赛马，在黄昏的光影中触碰到了赛马发源地欧洲所谓的"神"的衣角。他没能将神拉下王座，却搏斗到了最后一步、最后一息。
这半个马身的距离，虽是败北，亦是刻下的第一枚勋章。
——
TimeForm 报告：KG VI & QE DS 英皇钻石锦标-2000年
ASCOT 雅士谷
15:50 Saturday 29 July 2000
KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH DIAMOND STAKES (A) (Group 1)
乔治六世国王和伊丽莎白王后钻石锦标赛
Distance : 1m 4f
距离：2414米
Prize : £435,000
奖金：435000英镑
Age : 3yo+
年限：3岁以上
Race Type : Flat
赛事类型：平地赛
Surface : Turf
赛道：草地赛
Going : Gd/Frm
场地：坚良
Timeform View / 赛事综述:
A truly vintage renewal of the midsummer highlight, run at a relentless gallop and resulting in a pulsating duel that left the remainder of a high-class field toiling in the distance. The winner confirmed his status as the best horse in Europe, though he was forced to dig deeper than ever before by a Japanese raider who produced a performance of startling improvement. The time was exceptional, validating the elite rating of the front pair.
这是一场真正经典的盛夏巅峰对决，前段步速平均，但是最终演变成一场令人血脉喷张的双马单挑，将其他高水平赛驹远远甩在身后。冠军确立了其欧洲最强马的地位，但他被迫拿出了全部看家本领，因为这匹来自日本的挑战者表现出了惊人的进步。完赛时间出人意料的快，验证了前两名马匹的精英级评分。
---
1. MONTJEU (FRA) 望族
TF Rating: 133+
负重Weight: 9-7 (60.5kg)
血统Pedigree: Sadler's Wells - Floripedes (Top Ville)
赔率ISP：1/3 F
评价评论Commentary:
MONTJEU (FRA), the Arc winner, confirmed himself the best middle-distance horse in the world, though he was made to pull out all the stops to repel a shock challenge; settled in rear, travelled powerfully as usual, smooth headway wide entering straight, quickened to challenge leader 2f out, driven out and found plenty to lead final 50 yds, always holding on; he is a champion of rare ability, and the "+" donates that, given the difficulty in accurately defining the level of this match, there is still room for improvement in the rating.
望族 (法)，凯旋门大赛冠军，确立了自己作为世界最佳中长距离马的地位，尽管他被迫竭尽全力才击退了一个令人震惊的挑战；他在后方稳定走势，行进间力量感十足，直道入口处从外侧顺畅推进，最后2弗隆处加速挑战领先马，在强力推骑下展现了充沛的后劲，于最后50码取得领先并保持至终点；他是一匹罕见的天才冠军，“+”号表示，鉴于这场比赛的水平无法准确定义，评分仍有上升空间。
---
2. NORTHERN RIVER (JPN) 北方川流
Rating: 131+
负重Weight: 9-7 (60.5kg)
血统Pedigree: Adjudicating - Moonlight Sonata(Northern Taste)
赔率ISP：17/2
评论Commentary:
NORTHERN RIVER (JPN), whose previous Japan Cup win was workmanlike rather than spectacular, produced a career-best performance that was a revelation, taking the highest-rated horse in training to the very limit; tracked pace on inner, travelled strongly, kicked clear turning in, opened up 2 lengths lead and looked the winner until final 100 yds, headed but kept on gamely; a massive step forward on form, though it remains to be seen if he can back this up or if this was a "lightning in a bottle" performance on favorable firm ground. The "+" indicates that the quality of this race depends on the horse's subsequent performance, and there is still room for the rating to improve.
北方川流 (日)，虽然前走赢下日本杯的表现只能说是工整而非惊艳，但本场比赛跑出了职业生涯最佳水准，令人大开眼界，将现役评分最高的马逼到了极限；在内栏紧跟步速，走势强劲，转入直道后加速甩开对手，一度建立2个马身的优势并看似胜券在握，直到最后100码被超越，但依然顽强坚持；这是其状态的巨大飞跃，不过他究竟是真正达到了世界一流水平，还是仅在有利的硬地上昙花一现，仍需后续观察。“+”号表示，这场比赛的水准取决于该马的后续发挥，评分仍有上升空间。
---
3. FANTASTIC LIGHT (USA) 奇异光芒
Rating: 123
负重Weight: 9-7 (60.5kg)
血统Pedigree: Rahy - Jood (Nijinsky)
赔率ISP：13/2
评论Commentary:
FANTASTIC LIGHT (USA), a globetrotting racer, ran a respectable race but was simply blown away by the front pair; tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, outpaced by runner-up turning in, kept on one pace final furlong, beaten 4½ lengths; he is a top-class horse in his own right, which puts the performance of the top two into stark perspective.
奇异光芒 (美)，环球征战的实力马，跑出了一场值得尊敬的比赛，但仅仅是被前两名彻底摧毁了；全程紧跟领先集团，最后3弗隆处受催策，入直道时跟不上前方的节奏，最后一弗隆保持均速，最终落后5.5马身；他本身已是实力赛驹，这更加反衬出前两名马匹发挥的恐怖。
---
4. DALIAPOUR (IRE) 大利波
Rating: 119
负重Weight: 9-7 (60.5kg)
血统Pedigree: Sadler's Wells - Dalara (Doyoun)
赔率ISP：15/2
评论Commentary:
DALIAPOUR (IRE), Coronation Cup winner, wasn't disgraced but found this company too hot; tracked leader, pushed along 4f out, lost place entering straight, plugged on to take 4th; exposed as just below the very elite level.
大利波 (爱)，加冕杯冠军，表现不算丢脸，但对手实力太强；紧跟领放马，最后4弗隆处开始推骑，在直道入口处失去位置，勉强坚持获得第4名；证明其实力低于顶尖的精英层级。
---
5. BEAT ALL (USA) 毕全功
Rating: 116
负重Weight: 9-7 (60.5kg)
血统Pedigree: Dynaformer - Spirited Missus (Distinctive)
赔率ISP：33/1
评论Commentary:
BEAT ALL (USA) faced a stiff task and was never a factor; settled mid-division, struggled to quicken 3f out, made no impression.
毕全功 (美) 面临严峻挑战，全程未构成威胁；处于中游位置，最后3弗隆难以加速，未给人留下印象。
---
6. AIR SHAKUR (JPN) 空中神宫
Rating: 111
负重Weight: 8-9 (55.5kg)
血统Pedigree: Sunday Silence - I Dreamed A Dream (Well Decorated)
赔率ISP：10/1
评论Commentary:
AIR SHAKUR (JPN), the Japanese 2000 Guineas winner, proved a major disappointment on his European debut; mid-division, pulled hard early, under pressure Swinley Bottom, weakened rapidly in straight; clearly didn't handle the undulations or the solid pace against older horses.
空中神宫 (日)，日本二千坚尼（皐月赏）的冠军，在其欧洲首秀中令人大失所望；处于中游，早段抢口，在斯温利底路段已受压，直道上迅速力弱；显然无法适应起伏的赛道或对抗古马的坚实步速。
---
7. RAYPOUR (IRE) 雷波
Rating: 108
负重Weight: 8-9 (55.5kg)
(Pacemaker)
赔率ISP：100/1
评论Commentary:
RAYPOUR (IRE) set a strong pace for his stablemate Daliapour to 4f out, folded tamely, tailed off.
雷波 (爱) 为同马房的大利波带出了强劲的步速直到最后4弗隆，随后力竭溃败，大败收场。
---
8. SHIVA (GBR) 湿婆
Rating: 105
负重Weight: 8-11 (56kg)
血统Pedigree: Hector Protector - Lingerie (Shirley Heights)
赔率ISP：15/1
评论Commentary:
SHIVA (GBR), a G1-winning mare, was well below form; always in rear, never travelling, first beaten.
湿婆 (英)，一级赛冠军雌马，状态远低于水准；全程在后，从未展现出竞争势头，最早力竭，包尾。