Classic redemption for Smith

Mike Smith pulled off an emotional success as Drosselmeyer claimed the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in an epic finish last night.

Twelve months on from his heartbreaking defeat on Zenyatta, Smith delivered last year's Belmont Stakes hero to perfection to deny Chantal Sutherland a place in history on the front-running Game On Dude.

Aidan O'Brien's So You Think failed to make the places, but travelled well for a long way and was far from disgraced under Ryan Moore in sixth.

O'Brien said of his giant Australian import: "He's run a great race and we are very happy with him. He's a horse with a lot of speed, and we were probably going the wrong way with him in that sense.

"Ryan said they weren't going quick enough for him, and I look forward to going back to a mile with him. He'd have no problem with that distance.

"I was very excited looking at him today, and we are getting a picture in our heads of what he is.

"I don't think the dirt was any problem, but I would say distance-wise we should come back rather than go forward.

"If he didn't have the speed I think he has, he wouldn't want to get on with it like he did tonight. We are still learning a lot about him."

Asked to sum up the day after earlier seeing St Nicholas Abbey storm to glory under his 18-year-old son Joseph in the Turf, O'Brien said: "It's something I can't put into words, it's just been one of those really special days.

"It's magic for Joseph. He has been doing it since his eyes were open, and he knows the horses better than me.

"From the time he was six he has been coming to the Breeders' Cup, and he's never known anything else."

In winning on Bill Mott's four-year-old, Smith tied Jerry Bailey as the winning-most rider in Breeders' Cup history on 15 successes.

Smith said: "Last year hurt, and still hurts.

"It's amazing - I've only ridden him twice, the Belmont and the Classic.

"The whole key to him is to keep him moving, you check one second and you have to pedal all over gain. He can run all day."

Mott, who also won the Ladies' Classic on Friday with Royal Delta, becoming only the second trainer to achieve that feat, said: "It's an incredible thrill, we ran because the horse was doing well and coming off his best race this year.

"We were taking a chance, but we knew there would be a good pace and knew he would get the distance.

"We knew 10 furlongs wouldn't be an issue, it was just whether he could get up in time and he did it. The horse and rider did it."

Smith and Sutherland had reportedly been partners at one time, and Game On Dude's trainer Bob Baffert said: "He looked home free, but I saw Drosselmeyer in the middle of the track and he never got to see him.

"But he ran a great race, he showed up and that's all you can ask for. Chantal did a great job, I can't believe she got beat by Mike Smith!"

Sutherland, so close to becoming the first lady rider to win the Classic, said: "I thought you've got to be kidding me, Mike Smith! I'm very happy for him.

"Game On Dude ran an unbelievable race, when Johnny (Velazquez, on Uncle Mo) came up to me he was never going to get past. He will fight against anybody, I love him so much. Every time I asked he found more"