• Breeders' Cup

Zenyatta foiled by Blame in Classic bid

Goldikova secured a hat-trick of wins in the Breeders' Cup Mile © Getty Images

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Blame stunned a racing nation when pipping the mighty Zenyatta by a head in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Zenyatta came into the race unbeaten in her 19 races and was backed into even-money favouritism by her adoring public. The scenes ahead of the race were remarkable, as she was given a quite stunning welcome onto the track and she posed like a movie star walking down the red carpet.

In the race itself, Zenyatta adopted her usual role of dropping herself at the back of the field. As her career has progressed, she has dropped herself further and further behind and turning out on the final circuit she found herself 20 lengths adrift.

Jockey Mike Smith did not look happy and was asking his mount to pick up down the back straight. She made inroards turning out of the back and it looked like the race would fall into her lap as she leaders fell back.

Blame struck the front a furlong from home under Garrett Gomez and got first run on Zenyatta. Once seeing daylight, Zenyatta found her stride and was cutting into Blame's lead at a rate of knots but the post came a yard too soon.

Goldikova lived up to her superstar status with a thrilling victory in the Breeders' Cup Mile, her third win in the contest.

Freddie Head has masterminded the career of the super mare and he produced her at the peak of her powers to score at Churchill Downs. Olivier Peslier was content to sit some way off the pace set by Sindney's Candy, clearly confident in his mount's ability.

Peslier asked Goldikova for her effort turning into the straight and she had five lengths to make up on the leader. Once she straightened for home, Goldikova produced her trademark burst of pace and she swept to the front 100 yards out and was not hard pressed to secure victory from Gio Ponti. Goldikova has now won 15 of her 21 starts.

"It is very emotional," Head told ESPN. "It is quite unreal. We do not know how good she is, she is amazing. She can do anything. I do not have the words to describe it."

Brian Meehan claimed a second win in the Breeders' Cup Turf when Frankie Dettori, who rode Red Rocks to victory for the trainer in 2006, brought Dangerous Midge with a well-timed run to land the prize. Beaten in a couple of handicaps earlier in the season, Dangerous Midge came into the race with an improving profile and he stayed on gamely to deny Champ Peagsus an all-the-way success.

The form could be somewhat suspect as favourite Bekhabad failed to quicken once asked, while the race was robbed of some lustre by the withdrawal of Derby winner Workforce.

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