Veteran Kiwi reinsman Colin De Filippi says Courage Under Fire, who died at the weekend in Australia, was the “perfect racehorse’’.

“He was by far the best two and three-year-old I’ve ever driven.

“His manners and his attitude were excellent and his gait was flawless.

“He was the perfect racehorse.”

The Canterbury veteran drove the pint-sized colt in his unbeaten first 24 starts.

“He was a special horse to me, he would just give you confidence when driving him.

“He could really do anything – he had speed, he had stamina and he could sprint two or even three times in a race.

“It really didn’t matter where you settled, or what you drew, you just knew he was going to be too good for the horses he was racing at two and three.

“He could maintain his high speed and there just didn’t seem to be a bottom to him.“

De Filippi is just two wins away from joining the exclusive club of reinsmen to have driven 2000 winners in New Zealand, in a career spanning more than 40 years.

For him, Courage Under Fire, later a champion sire, ranks at the top of the tree for any young horse he has ever driven.

Courage Under Fire won six derbies in a record-setting three-year-old season for trainer Bruce Negus, but it was a Group Two race at Addington on Show Day in 1998 that sticks out in De Filippi’s mind the most.

“The race at Addington, it wasn’t the Derby or Sires’ Stakes Final, but it was on Show Day and they went 3.12 for 2600 metres.

“I was five back and one out, then I came out three-wide at the 1400, entering the straight with a lap to go.

“Bob Cameron [driver] was sitting in the one-one and he looked around just as I came out and he came out in front of me and pressed on.

“So I had to stay three-wide from there to the finish and I still knew I was going to beat them at the top of the straight.

“I don’t think he won by a lot, but he still won without being knocked about.

“That was an outstanding effort and one that sticks with me.”

Of his six Derbies, De Filippi looks to the last one, the 1999 Australian Derby as the best performance.

“It was his last race as a three-year-old, at Moonee Valley, and the track had just been done up and wasn’t real quick.

“He led up the whole way and got attacked I reckon at least three times.

“He went a 1.56 mile rate which I think was a world record for anything over 2400m for a three-year-old.

“I’ve watched every Derby over there since and nothing’s come close to it.”