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Trainer Aidan O’Brien added another race to his long strand of Group 1 victories this season when reigning European champion stayer Yeats thwarted resolute mare Allegretto in her attempt to win the Prix Royal-Oak (Fr-G1) (French St. Leger) at Longchamp for a second straight year on Sunday.

Jockey Johnny Murtagh was winless with seven mounts, including five for O’Brien, at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet Santa Anita Park, but halted that skein of losses after flying to Paris. Murtagh guided Yeats to a 1 1/2-length triumph on a racecourse the seven-year-old Sadler’s Wells horse supposedly did not like.   

Winless in three prior starts in France, Yeats finished fifth as the favorite to Bannaby in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Fr-G1) on October 4 at Longchamp in his previous start, ending a three-race win streak that included a record-equaling third consecutive victory in the Gold Cup (Eng-G1) on June 19 at Royal Ascot. He also finished third in the 2007 edition of the Prix du Cadran.

In his return to Longchamp on Sunday, Yeats tracked just behind stablemate Mikhail Fokine, who set a solid tempo in the 3,100-meter (15.41-furlong) race while the rest of the field settled well off the pace.

Yeats rapidly accelerated on Murtagh’s cue and gained command before entering the straight. The bay horse charged to the finish line and had plenty of power in reserve to repel Allegretto, who closed with a rush under Ryan Moore but could not overtake the winner.

Godolphin’s Jockey Club Cup (Eng-G3) winner Veracity finished third and Bannaby finished fourth. Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville (Fr-G2) winner Getaway, the favorite, finished eighth.

Yeats covered the distance in 3:19.30 on turf rated as good to soft, providing O’Brien his 22nd Group 1 win of 2008, three shy of trainer Bobby Frankel’s world record of 25 wins at the highest level set in 2003. O’Brien is one win short of equaling the old world record he set in 2001 for Grade or Group 1 victories.

Murtagh told Racing Post that both times Yeats ran in the Prix du Cadran there was a slow pace and a sprint to the finish.

“Yeats needs to cruise at a high tempo, and he was able to today, plus the ground was better for him. Today we had a good pacemaker, who gave me a lead until the straight.

“I think it is the intention to keep him in training next year so we can win a fourth Gold Cup at Ascot. The French [with Sagaro, trained by Francois Boutin] were only able to do it three times.”

Yeats, who is campaigned by Susan Magnier and Diane Nagle, has won 14 of 22 career starts. Bred by Barronstown Stud and Orpendale in Ireland, he is out of the Top Ville mare Lyndonville.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

HENRYTHENAVIGATOR 

Dual European classic winner Henrythenavigator, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park, and five-time Group 1 winner Duke of Marmalade (Ire) have been retired, according to published reports.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien confirmed the Coolmore runners both made their final career starts in the Classic.

Henrythenavigator rallied from off the pace to finish second to Raven’s Pass in the Classic, concluding his career with six wins, three seconds, and one third in 11 career starts with purse earnings of $2,750,538. The Breeders’ Cup was Henrythenavigator’s first start on the main track after making his previous ten starts on grass in Europe.

The three-year-old Kingmambo colt won four Group 1 races this year, including the Stanjamesuk.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and the Boylesports Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1).

“I was delighted with Henry, he got the trip well as I thought he would and he will now take up stud duties at Ashford Stud in Kentucky,” O’Brien told England’s Press Association.

Duke of Marmalade stalked the pace in the Classic but faded to finish ninth in the 12-horse field. The four-year-old Danehill colt reeled off five consecutive Group 1 wins earlier this season, including victories at the highest level in France, Ireland, and England.

Duke of Marmalade closed his career with six wins in 16 career starts and purse earnings of $2,777,768.

“Johnny [Murtagh] said he thought it was the end of a long hard season for The Duke and he will now be retired to stud,” O’Brien told England’s Press Association.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

Jockey Frankie Dettori’s post-race actions following his win aboard Raven’s Pass in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday are under review by track stewards working the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meeting, who could fine or suspend the European rider for throwing his whip in celebration.

Dettori tossed his whip high into the air shortly after Raven’s Pass earned a three-quarter-length victory in North America’s most lucrative race. Santa Anita steward Albert Christiansen said the whip did not strike any of the 12 Classic entrants as they galloped out past the finish. Track personnel quickly went onto the racing surface to retrieve the whip, which landed about 50 yards past the finish line.

Christiansen is not sure when Santa Anita stewards may reach a decision regarding any disciplinary action against Dettori.

“First time I’ve ever seen it,” Christiansen said. “Why would he throw a $100 whip away? To tell you the truth, I don’t know if he got it back or not.”

Stewards did fine Dettori $500 on Saturday for failing to fulfill his riding engagements. After guiding Raven’s Pass to victory in the Classic, the ninth race on the card, Dettori was scheduled to ride Master Daniel in the subsequent Damascus Stakes. Tyler Baze picked up the mount aboard Master Daniel and finished ninth.

Christiansen said stewards delayed post time for the Damascus to allow Dettori time to participate in ceremonies that took place following the Classic. He said emotions might have played a role in Dettori choosing not ride in the Damascus.

“He just was too excited would be a guess. He really didn’t say anything,” Christiansen said. “He accepted the fine I would say very graciously and left it at that.”

The Classic victory was one of two wins earned on the World Championships program by Dettori, a three-time champion jockey in Britain known for his flying dismounts that follow wins. Dettori also rode Donativum (GB) to a win in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

Day One of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships was called Filly Friday. Day Two forever will be known as Euro Saturday.

English Group 1 winner Raven’s Pass rallied from near the back of the field, overtook Horse of the Year Curlin in the stretch, and drove to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $4,580,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), capping a day in which European-based horses won five of the nine championship races at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.

The crowd of 55,331 roared its approval when Curlin made his patented sweeping move on the turn and took command at the head of the stretch. From out of nowhere, Raven’s Pass came charging up the center of the track, followed closely on Curlin’s inside by fellow foreign invader Henrythenavigator, and shot past the American champion, driving with determination to the line and covering 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.27 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface.

The victory was the third consecutive win for the three-year-old Elusive Quality colt out of the Lord At War (Arg) mare Ascutney following wins in the Totesport.com Celebration Mile (Eng-G2) on August 23 at Goodwood and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-G1) on September 27 at Ascot.

Henrythenavigator closed gamely to finish second—as he did in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes—followed another three-quarters of a length back by Grade 1 winner Tiago and then Curlin another neck behind.

The European contingent, which flocked to Santa Anita to run on the synthetic track, was strong all day long as Muhannak (Ire) won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Marathon, Goldikova (Ire) captured the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), Donativum (GB) won the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Conduit (Ire) won the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) heading into North America’s most lucrative race.

Jockey Frankie Dettori won his seventh and eighth career Breeders’ Cup races and his first-ever Classic after coming close with a second aboard Sakhee in 2001. Dettori captured the Juvenile Turf aboard Donativum earlier on the card.

“It was something I dreamed about last night; one of those things you just don’t think can happen,” Dettori said. “Brilliant, just brilliant. A dream come true.”

Trainer John Gosden, who was based in Southern California in the 1980s before shifting his operation to Europe, also won two races on the day. He sent out Donativum, his first Breeders’ Cup winner since Royal Heroine (Ire) won the inaugural Mile in 1984 at Hollywood Park.

“I was delighted the way he was able to relax and settle and the way he rallied back [in the stretch],” Gosden said of Raven’s Pass.

“What a day to cherish. Santa Anita is our home away from home. I was very confident we’d be in the top three. He’s been improving over the fall. He’s been training better and better and mentally he’s more mature. Sometimes, things just go right.”

Peter Pan winner Casino Drive went immediately to the lead and took the 12-horse field through a half-mile in :47.60 and six furlongs in 1:11.64. Duke of Marmalade (Ire), a five-time Group 1 winner, briefly held the lead before Curlin made his signature sweeping move midway through the turn under jockey Robby Albarado.

Cheers from the crowd swelled as the horses hit the stretch and Curlin appeared to be pulling away to his second consecutive Classic victory—and likely second straight Horse of the Year title.

Instead, Dettori came charging up on the outside of Curlin as Henrythenavigator made his bid on the inside. Curlin could just not keep up as the two sprinted gamely to the line.

“He ran well,” a dejected Albarado said. “Maybe he’s not a turf specialist; I don’t know. … Raven’s Pass is an exceptional horse who ran an exceptional time. Curlin’s been in that position turning for home and he’s never lost.

“I was content with where I was. Curlin did what he does, going by horses, and he made his run but got a little late in the stretch. He ran hard. I’m disappointed he lost, but obviously he’s done enough for us and our careers. He’s the all-time American horse, so we can never knock him.”

Trainer Steve Asmussen said the synthetic surface, which almost kept Curlin from competing in the race, played a major factor in his defeat.

“It was a turf race,” he said. “It was absolutely the Pro-Ride surface [that beat him]. He ran his heart out and gave it all he had. He’s a great horse. He’s made over $10-million.”

The order of finish was completed by Go Between, Colonel John, Smooth Air, Champs Elysees (GB), Duke of Marmalade, Fairbanks, Student Council, and Casino Drive.
 
Bred in Kentucky by Stonerside Stable and owned by Princess Haya of Jordan, who also owns Donativum, Raven’s Pass has six victories and four second-place finishes in 12 career starts and $3,658,556 in earnings. 

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

Jockey Garrett Gomez was named the winner of the Bill Shoemaker Award as the outstanding jockey for the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World championships.

Gomez, who also won the award in 2005 and ’07, won four of the 14 races during the two-day Breeders’ Cup program.

Gomez kicked off the weekend with a four-length romp aboard Ventura on Friday in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. He continued on Saturday with a three-win day, earning earning a clear triumph aboard Albertus Maximus in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He added a victory aboard Midshipman in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and capped the day with a win aboard Midnight Lute in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

“I enjoyed all of them,” Gomez said. “Any time you end up in the winner’s circle and especially on a day like today, it just gives you an amazing feeling. You know, I was glad to win one, and I was wanting to win more coming into today. When I got my first one today, I thought, ‘Here we go, maybe we’ll get lucky and get another one.’ Then another one rolled over, and I ended up winning another one. And it was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ “

Gomez became the first rider in the 25-year history of the Breeders’ Cup to ride more than two winners. He now has eight career wins in the event, tied for fifth with Racing Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

 

Following Conduit’s (Ire) victory in the Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes (Eng-G1) at

Doncaster on September 13, plans initially called for the three-year-old Dalakhani colt to be retired or rested until 2009.But trainer Sir Michael Stoute informed owner-breeder Ballymacoll Stud that the colt was doing so well the expense of a trip to Santa Anita Park for the $2,926,620 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) might be worthwhile.Conduit made that decision pay off on Saturday with a decisive 1 1/2-length victory over runner-up Eagle Mountain (GB).“He’s progressing all the time. He keeps getting better,” Stoute said following the victory. “He’s a beautifully balanced horse with a good turn of foot, and he keeps getting better. It’s a pleasure to have him.“Our first reaction after he pulled up after the Leger was, ‘That’s enough for the year,’ but he was telling me, ‘No, I’m not ready to do that yet.’ We’re delighted.”

Eagle

Mountain was 2 1/4 lengths clear of Dancing Forever, who outfinished 8-to-5 favorite Soldier of Fortune (Ire) for third. Conduit covered 1 1/2 miles in a stakes record 2:23.42 on firm turf.Soldier of Fortune, who had common ownership interests with pacesetter Red Rock Canyon (Ire), raced directly behind his stablemate through six furlongs in 1:10.20 and a mile in 1:33.86.Conduit was seventh turning for home.

Eagle Mountain got the jump on him but was not able to stay with the winner late.

Eagle

Mountain was making his second start for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and trainer Michael de Kock, who acquired the Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) colt from a Coolmore Stud partnership.“I think everything went to plan for us—no complaints. We were beaten by a great horse on the day. He outstayed us. There’s no doubt about it,” de Kock said. “I’m very proud of what happened. We’ve got a big future with this horse.”Conduit, who is out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Well Head, improved his career record to five wins in nine starts with earnings of $2,486,379. 

Midnight Lute delivered a spectacular stretch run to win the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and secure a spot in Breeders’ Cup history on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.The five-year-old Real Quiet horse rallied from last in the field of eight to win the $1,832,000 race in stakes record time of 1:07.08. With the win, Midnight Lute becomes the first two-time Sprint winner.Baffert credited owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Weitman Performances with allowing the horse time to come back from minor injuries at the end of last season. Baffert said once he returned to

Del Mar this summer, Midnight Lute returned to top form.“This is the greatest horse I’ve ever trained,” said Baffert, who secured his second win on the Championship Saturday card, giving him seven career Breeders’ Cup wins. “He’ll do things like work 56 [seconds] and change in the morning and come back like he hasn’t done a thing. … He’s just a tremendous athlete. What he did today, you just don’t see horses do that.”Midnight Lute settled last of eight early through a quarter-mile cut by First Defence in :21.28. First Defence faded on the turn as Fatal Bullet secured the lead and opened a 1 1/2-length advantage in the stretch.Midnight Lute launched a six-wide rally on the far turn and was gaining ground with each stride late, before finally forging ahead to a 1 3/4-length victory. Grade 3 winner Fatal Bullet held second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Grade 1 winner Street Boss, who rallied from seventh to finish third.Winning jockey Garrett Gomez became the first jockey to win three Championship Saturday races and first to win four Breeders’ Cup races on a single weekend. Gomez also teamed with Baffert to win the Juvenile (G1) on Midshipman and he guided Albertus Maximus to victory in the Dirt Mile.Champion sprinter Midnight Lute joins the short list of two-time Breeders’ Cup winners that includes Bayakoa (Arg), Da Hoss, High Chaparral (Ire), Miesque, Ouija Board (GB), and Tiznow.With the win, Midnight Lute improved his career record to six wins in 13 starts with earnings of $2,690,600. 

Donativum (GB) and

Westphalia (Ire) dueled inside the eighth pole in the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and Donativum surged past that foe in the final strides to win the $1,035,080 race for two-year-old males on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.John Gosden trains Donativum for Princess Haya of

Jordan. Gosden was beaming following the victory, basking in the glow of winning his second Breeders’ Cup race. Gosden, who won the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) with Royal Heroine (GB) on the inaugural Breeders’ Cup program 25 years ago, added a second win later on Saturday when Raven’s Pass won the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). “It’s great to come back and win a Breeders’ Cup race,” Gosden said. “The Breeders’ Cup has progressed really well and developed over the last 25 years. The Friday program was great. It’s racing of the highest quality.”Orthodox set quick fractions of :22.54, :46.53, and 1:10.34 through six furlongs but had no response in the stretch when

Westphalia challenged from off the rail and Donativum charged down the center of the track.Princess Haya leases Donativum from Darley, who also owns Juvenile Turf third-place finished Coronet of a Baron and fourth-place finisher City Style. Darley also won the preceding race with Midshipman. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum owns Darley and is married to Princess Haya.Aidan O’Brien trains Westphalia for Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier, and

Westphalia’s narrow loss was reminiscent of Heart Shaped’s defeat loss to Maram in Friday’s Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.“They really were close races, weren’t they,” O’Brien said. “We had a good pace to run at, but we needed to get out sooner.”Stratford Place Stud bred Donativum in

England. He is by Cadeaux Genereux out of the Group 3-placed Warning (GB) mare Miss Universe. Both European-based horses will now be pointed toward three-year-old campaigns. 

Midshipman and Square Eddie finished one-two, respectively, in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to give their owners an immediate return on their investments on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.Darley Stable purchased Midshipman from breeder Stonerside Stable earlier this year, and J. Paul Reddam purchased Square Eddie from David Gorton.The two hooked up for much of the 1 1/16-mile race before Midshipman spurted away turning for home. But Square Eddie fought back gallantly to finish second with Street Hero up the rail to finish third.“I want to thank Mr. [Robert] McNair who bred the horse,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “It’s good to win one for Darley, but it was a great job done by Mr. McNair.”Midshipman went right to the front under new rider Garrett Gomez, a change in tactics from his previous three races when he had come from slightly off the pace. Midshipman set fractions of :47.08 and 1:10.61 through six furlongs before winning in 1:40.94 on the Pro-Ride surface.“I just didn’t want him to get left with too much to do,” Baffert said of Midshipman making the lead early. “I basically told Garrett to break cleanly, go near the front and get a good position. We came into this race fit and ready.”The deal McNair made with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum requires Midshipman to remain with Baffert unless Darley decides to race the horse in

Dubai. Baffert would not speculate on where Midshipman would race next.Midshipman is by Unbridled’s Song out of the Avenue of Flags mare Fleet Lady. John Adger, bloodstock adviser to McNair, said in August that Midshipman was Stonerside’s best horse since Congaree.“I knew this horse was special when I got him to

Del Mar,” Baffert said of Midshipman’s development.The Norfolk Stakes (G1) and Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1) dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Street Boss and Midshipman finished one-two in the

Norfolk and one-three in the Juvenile. Square Eddie, meanwhile, had won the Futurity with Terrain finishing second then and fourth in the Juvenile.Vineyard Haven, winner of the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) Stakes, did not race in the Breeders’ Cup. Baffert said that Midshipman deserves the Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old male. Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

 

Another start, another scintillating performance for European invader Goldikova (Ire).

The three-year-old Anabaa filly found an opening in traffic at the quarter pole and unleashed a powerful rally to earn a 1 1/4-length victory in the $1,951,080 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on Saturday at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Goldikova entered off three consecutive group stakes victories in France, including the Prix Rothschild (Fr-G1) on August 3 and the Prix du Moulin du Longchamp (Fr-G1) on September 7, and became the first female to capture the Mile since Six Perfections (Fr) beat Touch of the Blues (Fr) in the 2003 Mile, the last time the event was held at Santa Anita Park.

“She did it like she always does,” said jockey Olivier Peslier, who won his second career Breeders’ Cup race after scoring aboard Banks Hill (GB) in the ‘01 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1). “She’s a very, very good filly.”

Trainer Freddie Head also found himself in the winner’s circle following the Mile for the third time in his career but first as a trainer. The 61-year-old Chantilly, France, native won back-to-back editions of the Mile as a jockey with Miesque in 1987 and ‘88. He became the first Breeders’ Cup winning jockey to train a Breeders’ Cup winner.

“This is amazing,” said Head, who retired from riding in 1997 at age 50. “It’s something you can’t imagine. All I can say is life has been good to me.”

Grade 1 winner Thorn Song went right to the lead and set the pace through a half-mile in :46.52 and six furlongs in 1:10.07.

Appearing trapped behind a wall of horses around the turn, Goldikova,the 9-to-5 favorite, found an opening in tight quarters and quickly accelerated into the clear, driving home under a several right-handed taps of the whip by Peslier to cover the distance in 1:33.40 on firm turf.

“There really was no trouble,” Peslier said. “We were inside in a good spot. She’s very clever and just waited until she found room before she took off.”

Last year’s Mile winner, Kip Deville, closed gamely for second, 2 1/2 lengths in front of Whatsthescript (Ire) with Precious Kitten finishing another head back in fourth.

Owned by the renowned Werthheimer family, Goldikova won for the sixth time in nine career starts with two second-place finishes and a third. A jubilant Alain Wertheimer said the talented filly “absolutely” will return to the track next season.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

Albertus Maximus capitalized on a sizzling tempo by rallying from off the pace to prevail in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Vladimir Cerin for owners Marianne and Brandon Chase, the improving four-year-old Albert the Great colt earned his second career stakes win by completing one mile in 1:33.41 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface.

Runner-up Rebellion (GB) closed with a rush from the outside to edge third-place finisher Two Step Salsa in the closing strides.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

David Hofmans knows a thing or two about longshot victories on the Breeders’ Cup World Championships program and he delivered another on Saturday when Tarabilla Farms Inc.’s Desert Code scored a huge shocker in the $1-million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.

Desert Code won the inaugural Turf Sprint with a powerful late run inside the final furlong at odds of 36-to-1, a victory that came a month after the four-year-old E Dubai colt finished a non-threatening seventh in the Morvich Handicap (G3) on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.

Desert Code won by a half-length from Diabolical, who looked like a winner with one furlong to run under jockey Frankie Dettori, with Storm Treasure another length back in third. Final time for the about 6 1/2-furlong distance on the firm turf was 1:11.60.

Jockey Richard Migliore, who did not ride Desert Code in the Morvich, was back aboard for his first career Breeders’ Cup win. Hofmans picked up his third, adding to previous scores with Alphabet Soup in an upset win over Cigar in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at odds of 19.85-to-1 and Adoration at odds of 40.70-to-1 in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita.

“His last race he really needed it badly and the track was really too hard for him,” Hofmans said. “And he’s a horse that loves this downhill course.”

The win was Desert Code’s fourth in six career starts on the hillside layout, along with wins in the 2007 Baldwin Stakes (G3) and the listed Joe Hernandez Stakes. Migliore was aboard for both stakes victories.

“He was so far back today, that’s usually not his style, so I’ve got to give all the credit to Richard,” Hofmans said. “I trained him here, but Richard got him home.”

Bred in Kentucky by ClassicStar and out of the Lost Code mare Chatta Code, Desert Code was a $150,000 purchase at the 2005 Keeneland September yearling sale and has now won six of 19 career starts.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

MUHANNAK (IRE) (inside) 

English synthetic track specialist Muhannak (Ire) upset the field in the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon on Saturday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park, besting a field of eight that included favored English classic winner Sixties Icon (GB).

Muhannak, a four-year-old Chester House gelding, was coming off a listed stakes win at Dundalk in Ireland. He improved his synthetic tack record to five wins from eight starts with the win at odds of 12.40-to-1.

Rated in fourth under Jockey Pat Smullen through a mile in 1:40.95, Muhannak commenced his run on the far turn and took the lead in at the quarter pole. He held off Grade 3 winner Church Service by a head for the win. Big Booster finished third, three-quarters of a length behind Church Service.

The final time for the 1½ miles on the synthetic Pro-Ride surfacer was 2:28.24. It was Smullen’s first Breeders’ Cup victory in eight mounts.

“It’s a dream come true for me to win a Breeders’ Cup,” Smullen said.

Owned by Richard Pegum, Muhannak was trained by Ralph Beckett, who saddled his first Breeders’ Cup mount. The emotional trainer praised Muhannak’s heart and ability to travel.

The bettors made 2006 Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-G1) winner Sixties Icon the 1.40-to-1 wagering favorite, but he only managed to finish fifth. Rider Frankie Dettori said his colt handled the Pro Ride surface but encountered some traffic on the turn and was unable to overtake the leaders in the stretch.

“He handled the track alright, but the pace was too slow for him,” Dettori said.

Out of the winning Forzando (GB) mare Opera (GB), Muhannak was bred in Ireland by Mount Coote Stud. He improved to seven wins in 15 lifetime starts and earned $422,675

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com