John Lawrence in the Daily Telegraph wrote: "This was the big bay colts first race, but showing no sign of inexperience he proceeded to treat his opponents, including three previous winners, with total disrespect.
Len Thomas, The Sporting Life wrote: "Yesterday, in the Middle Park Stakes, the early pace was very slow for the first couple of furlongs but when Brigadier Gerard reached the incline he settled the issue in a few strides to win impressively.
It was interesting to note Brigadier Gerard finished the same distance ahead of Swing Easy as did My Swallow in the Prix de la Salamandre at Longchamp recently".
[11][12] Heavy rain on the Tuesday and plenty more in the hour before racing had made the going at Goodwood not as deep as Royal Ascot, but still considered to be much to the disadvantage of Brigadier Gerard.
King's Company, the second highest rated two-year-old in Ireland had won the Irish 2000 Guineas in somewhat controversial circumstances, in course record time and by the narrowest of margins from Sparkler.
As a result of prevailing conditions Joe Mercer allowed Brigadier Gerard to stroll along at the head of affairs until approaching the furlong maker, where Faraway Son and Joshua threw down their challenges.
In opposition was leading French challenger Dictus, fourth in last season's Champion Stakes just behind Nijinsky, and now fresh from victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, where he defeated Sparkler by half a length.
From France came Tratteggio, trained by Alec Head, having just won the Prix Henri Delamere by 6 lengths, Amadou who had run Caro, the best older horse in France, very close before being beaten narrowly by Gold Rod and Roi Soliel, a mud lover, who had won the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot before being narrowly defeated by Dictus and Gold Rod in the[Prix Jacques le Marois.
On reaching the rising ground Rarity made progress on the outside where Brigadier Gerard held on to win by a short head with Welsh Pageant 2+1⁄2 lengths away in third.
For this reason the Brigadier's provisional programme, planned by his owners John and Jean Hislop, was to start with the Coronation Stakes,run at Sandown Park, in April.
As it happened the ground dried appreciable and the going was perfect on the day the race was run, however, the repercussions of this decision significantly undermined Brigadier Gerard's pre-planned schedule.
On 20 May, on good ground, Brigadier Gerard made his first appearance of the season where a field of just five runners contested this Group 2 race run on the straight mile at Newbury.
When interviewed by John Trickett, Daily Express, jockey Geoff Baxter, riding front-runner Prominent confirmed, quite rightly, that he was intending to ensure Brigadier Gerard stayed the distance well.
Following the Champion Stakes at Newmarket Brigadier Gerard's owners had stated that they would never race their horse again in similar conditions but, with so many tickets sold for this contest they decided to let him take his place.
While all the time keeping a close eye on the fact that there was still the real possibility of meeting Mill Reef in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot two weeks later.
Owner, John Hislop and trainer, Major Dick Hern walked the course before racing and advised jockey Joe Mercer to keep toward the centre of the course up the home straight.
Joe took it as easily as possible on the Brigadier considering the prevailing conditions while bearing in mind that the King George was in only two weeks time and, with Mill Reef still among the entries, that was then planned as his next destination.
After a couple of easy days it was confirmed by his connections that Brigadier Gerard's next race would indeed be in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot where he would step up to 12 furlongs for the first time in his career.
On Saturday 21 July on good going following overnight rain Brigadier Gerard lined up for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Leading approaching the final furlong, Brigadier Gerard stayed on strongly for a comfortable success, missing Mill Reef's course record by 0.3 second carrying 14lbs more.
On Tuesday 15 August, on good fast ground just twenty-four days after winning the hugely competitive King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in near course record time and running in his sixth race in just 12 weeks, Brigadier Gerard lined up against four opponents.
Mill Reef had been withdrawn a week earlier leaving his pacemaker Bright Beam and Brigadier Gerard's old adversary Gold Rod to carry the colours of the older horses but they were outclassed.
From the outset it was clear that Roberto's jockey wanted to force the pace and when he was joined by Bright Beam the pair quickly opened up a six length gap to Rheingold, followed by Brigadier Gerard then Gold Rod.
Where Roberto found this performance from was a mystery to most observers although Vincent O'Brien's assistant trainer, Michael Kauntze, rated him on a par with Nijinsky when on form, and Lester Piggott stated that "he was a champion when things were in his favour".
These were old rival Sparkler, in receipt of 7lbs, who had run the Brigadier perilously close at level weights in the St James Palace Stakes over course and distance and the three-year-old Redundant fresh from carrying 9st 10lbs to an all the way victory at Sandown Park.
Responding magnificently, Brigadier Gerard caught the new leader, Sparkler, in twenty strides and, pushed right out strode away in tremendous style to win by six lengths".
Unlike the Champion Stakes the previous year where heavy rain had saturated the ground producing underfoot conditions not entirely of the Brigadier's liking this time the elements were at their most acceptable.
Boreen, Lord David, Jimsun, Sol Argent and L’Apache fell just below Group 1 standard and the Brigadier's stable companion Almagest made up the field.
Just over four weeks after his final, triumphant arrival at West Ilsley Stables Brigadier Gerard was loaded onto the horsebox for the return journey to the headquarters of British racing.
Whatever high hopes the syndicate who bought into Brigadier Gerard held the terms and conditions of using his services appeared to be a huge gamble and were strongly criticised in the racing press.