Invasor Claims Classic Crown

Sheikh Mohammed's bid to win the Breeders' Cup Classic was foiled by his brother Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum as Invasor floored Bernardini at Churchill Downs.

The race looked Bernardini's for the taking when he swept into the lead after what appeared a decisive move just before the home turn.

However, 18-year-old Fernando Jara brought Invasor (11-2), trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, with a devastating late thrust to wear down the 5-4 favourite in the final 100 yards.

Premium Tap was third and Giacomo fourth while the Aidan O'Brien-trained George Washington ran well for most of the way until fading out of contention in the straight.

Brother Derek led the field in the early stages of the mile and a quarter showpiece on dirt with Lawyer Ron and Lava Man close up and George Washington handy.

Bernardini made his move on the outside down the far side and was in front before the final turn. However, Invasor held far too many aces for the hot favourite.

Invasor was coming into the race on the back of a 91-day absence after suffering a slight setback but McLaughlin did not think the break has too much of an impact.

He said: 'We were lucky to be able to keep him pretty much on schedule. I think he missed one work and one race but he stayed on scheduled and worked well.

'He worked very well and he gets a lot out of his gallops, he really had come on a lot in the last 90 days.'

McLaughlin was also quick to pay tribute to Jara, who also won the Belmont Stakes on stablemate Jazil.

'He's a great rider who is so cool, he never gets nervous and he rode a great race by saving so much ground,' he told Racing UK.

Bernardini's trainer Tom Albertrani was gracious in defeat after seeing his stable star's six-race unbeaten run ended.

'It looked like he was struggling down the back. He kicked on and made a good run but I think he just got beat by a better horse today,' he said.

'There's no disgrace. Invasor deserved it as he's done everything right this year.'

O'Brien said of sixth-placed George Washington: 'He ran a blinder and I was throwing him in at the deep end. Mick said he'd love to ride him on it again but of course that can't happen.

'It was his first time on the dirt and on this surface horses get a rough passage but you could see his class as he travelled so well.

'Basically he is pure speed, though, and I think he ran a great race on his first attempt at the distance.'

Kinane added: 'He travelled really well for me and I thought at one stage he would get into the argument but I wasn't helped when the winner moved out and knocked me sideways.

'It was a hell of a run under the conditions.'

Miesque's Approval was a surprise winner as the seven European raiders failed to sparkle in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The seven-year-old, trained by Marty Wolfson and ridden by Eddie Castro, burst through the pack in the final furlong to comfortably hold Aragorn with Badge Of Silver in third to make it a clean sweep for the home-trained runners.

Sleeping Indian fared best of the European raiders in fourth with Rob Roy fifth.

It looked a rough race behind with Aussie Rules one of the horses hampered in the straight as he tried to make his move.

Alex Solis, rider of Sleeping Indian, said: 'I had to pull him back in what was a rough race and if I had had any luck at all, I would have been second.'

Rob Roy came from well of the pace to finish fifth and jockey Ramon Dominguez was met by a furious Sir Michael Stoute.

The trainer was angry with Dominguez for failing to carry out his instructions by sitting last at least a dozen lengths off the pace.

Aussie Rules eventually finished eighth and O'Brien commented: 'He had a tough draw on the outside and could not get any cover in the race.'

Araafa was a place behind in ninth and his trainer Jeremy Noseda said: 'John Velazquez thought he had plenty of horse under him turning in but the horse just flattened out at the quarter pole.'

Jamie Spencer partnered Ad Valorem to finish 13th and felt the four-year-old had just run out of steam.

He said: 'Everything was going well, I was in front and thought I had plenty of horse but he just died on me.'

Dettori, rider of last-placed Echo Of Light, added: 'He was a bit fresh and didn't fire at the end.'

Michael Matz's Round Pond (16-1) claimed the Distaff but her victory was overshadowed by injuries to favourite Fleet Indian and the well-fancied Pine Island.

The latter broke down along the back straight and was put down after sustaining a serious leg injury while Fleet Indian was pulled up with a fetlock problem, although her prognosis is good.

There was also further drama after the finish as second-past-the-post Asi Siempre was to fourth after the stewards upheld an objection from connections of Balletto.

They agreed Asi Siempre had impeded Balletto's run with Happy Ticket duly elevated to second place with Balletto third.

Dreaming Of Anna belied her slight frame to make all over an extended mile in the Juvenile Fillies while Stan Moore's British raider trailed home 11th of 14 runners with John Egan aboard.

'She didn't get to jump too well with all that kick back and then she became unbalanced going round the paddock turn,' Egan said.

'We can learn from the experience and she hasn't disgraced herself.'

In the Juvenile, Street Sense stormed home off the final turn to win by a record-breaking 10 lengths from the fast-finishing Circular Quay.

Thor's Echo produced a power-packed display as hot favourite Henny Hughes proved a bitter disappointment in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Doug O'Neill's charge was drawn one but Corey Nakatani decided to pull off the rail and challenge down the outside turning into the straight.

The four-year-old Thor's Echo (14-1) accelerated away from runner-up Friendly Island with Nightmare Affair back in third.

Henny Hughes was a little slowly away and Velazquez was not hard on the 2-1 favourite once his chance was gone.

(C) PA Sport