St Nicholas Abbey wins Turf war

Joseph O'Brien scores brilliantly on St Nicholas Abbey

St Nicholas Abbey, trained by Aidan O'Brien and ridden by his son Joseph, was a brilliant winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs.

O'Brien Jr became the youngest jockey ever to win a Breeders' Cup race at the tender age of 18.

And he showed maturity way beyond his years to give the former champion two-year-old a perfect ride in Kentucky.

Sea Moon, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and ridden by Ryan Moore, looked a major player for just a second but had no answer when St Nicholas Abbey unleashed a devastating finishing kick.

Extra special

Brilliant Speed stayed on gamely for third, while the favourite - brilliant French filly Sarafina - struggled to find running room after travelling well for a long way.

And former Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Midday was out of the places on what is likely to have been the final run of her glorious career.

The victory will be extra special for O'Brien Sr, who has long held this son of Montjeu in the highest esteem. And the Coolmore team's decision to keep him in training at four paid off here as he finally lived up in full to the lofty expectations that his brilliant juvenile campaign had brought.

A clearly moved winning trainer said: "It's very special, unbelievable. It was a wonderful ride, it's incredible. What can I say, he's an incredible rider."

The winning jockey meanwhile beamed: "It's a dream come true. The horse was always going easy and picked up when it mattered. I had to be patient and wait for the gaps but when I got out at the bottom of the straight, he picked up really well.

"I've been coming to the Breeders' Cup since I was a little boy. To win a race here is very, very special."

Fantastic

Joseph's mother, Anne-Marie, said: "I'm so excited, he gave it a super ride. It's fantastic. My heart was going 100mph, I could hardly stand up I was so nervous. We are so pleased to be here."

The winning rider said: "It's a dream come true. I was very happy with my position, I was very happy with the horse and he picked up when it mattered.

"They went a nice pace, I had to be patient and wait for the gaps, but when he got out he picked up well.

"I've been coming to the Breeders' Cup since I was very small, but to ride here and ride a winner - it's out of this world."

Day from the gods

Coolmore partner Derrick Smith said: "This is way up there. We've always had faith in the horse and to see Joseph, it's a day from the gods. They have put so much work into everything. It's unbelievable for us. The horse showed all his brilliance today, we always knew it was there."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Sea Moon's owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "Sea Moon ran a blinder, however he wasn't helped by his sluggish start.

"We can't complain as he got in a super position to challenge and did everything he could. He is lightly raced and still a bit babyish."

Grimthorpe meanwhile said of Midday: "The signs just before the race weren't very positive and I would think that would be it for a magnificent career. There's no doubt she has been one of the all-time great racemares."