Causeway a giant in defeat

The Breeders' Cup Classic, the richest horse race in America, courts controversy. Two years ago Frankie Dettori lost his composure and the glittering prize on Godolphin's Swain. This time Michael Kinane lost his reins on Giant's Causeway, who was beaten a neck by Tiznow in a finish that put local heart surgeons on red alert.

The quirky but brilliant Giant's Causeway's troubles began on Wednesday when he drew the outside stall of 14 runners. Before the race on Saturday he was mulish to load, at the first bend he was forced to gallop four wide and turning for home he was under strong pressure from Michael Kinane to close on Tiznow and Chris McCarron.

The two horses raced nostril to nostril at the furlong pole. Kinane had his whip in his left hand, and tried to switch it to his right. A jumble of reins and hands was resolved by Europe's leading jockey only as the winning line approached. Tiznow was a neck up, but McCarron's whip was down, superfluous in the final strides.

"I thought I was going to win," Kinane said. "He ran his heart out, but he just tired in the last 50 yards. He's an amazing horse. I'm so proud of him." Giant's Causeway will now be retired to stud, the winner of five consecutive Group One races during the summer. If his progeny inherit a fraction of his speed and courage, the sport will be spoilt for champions.

Giant's Causeway's part-owner Michael Tabor said: "There you are, such is life. At least we still live to tell the tale and he has run his heart out.

"He was made for this surface and I think he should never have been trained in Europe!"

"He was drawn right on the outside and a lot of people said it was a bad draw and a lot said it was a good draw.

"I didn't think it was a good draw as he had to run the race coming from out there. At the end of the day that may be why he didn't win."

Kalanisi had restored European pride with a sweeping victory in the Turf. Drawn against the inside rail, Johnny Murtagh had to wait until the straight before making his move. Michael Stoute's colt quickened to lead close home and won comfortably by half a length.

Mutamam finished a creditable fourth, just ahead of Fantastic Light, who saw only dark in the straight. Montjeu was found out by the pedestrian gallop. Settled last in the early stages by Kinane, he came home seventh, running respectably given the hard ground and the task he had been set.

Stoute, so often reserved in victory, ran on to the track with his arms raised in triumph. "He never got the credit he deserved for winning the Champion Stakes," the trainer said. "This horse is one of the very, very best in the world, one of the best I have trained."

"He's a very tough horse and hasn't been getting the credit he deserves but he will now," said Barbados-born Stoute, who won the same race with Pilsudski four years ago.

"When he saw daylight he really quickened. He's been here for 12 days and the team have done a great job."

Murtagh was putting the seal on a remarkable campaign in which he has also won the Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc Triomphe with Sinndar.

"It's just been a fantastic year for me - you would think it couldn't get any better but it does," he said.

"I ride for John Oxx in Ireland and I am just lucky that Michael Stoute has let me ride his horses."

Murtagh had earlier walked the course with Gary Stevens, who had told the Irishman that he could afford to be patient. "When we turned for home I thought `I hope this stretch is as long as Gary said it would be.' When you are on good horses, though, things seem to go right."

Things have gone more than right for the Irishman. The Turf was his 11th success in a championship race this year, and his second in the Breeders' Cup, following Ridgewood Pearl's win in 1995. The disappointment of the day for Stoute and Murtagh was Petrushka's tame effort in the Filly & Mare Turf. Running in snatches, the 7 to 5 favourite was struggling leaving the back stretch, and then stayed on to take fifth behind Perfect Sting. An arduous season might have taken its toll.

None of the British challenge for the Mile threatened to repeat Barathea's victory of 1994. The race proved a tactical triumph for Gary Stevens on War Chant. The American jockey had retired prematurely on St Stephen's debilitated by a knee injury. Successful surgery put him back in the saddle last month.

A pulsating Breeders' Cup Day, inspiring a kaleidoscope of emotions. The winning surges of War Chant and Kalanisi will linger in the memory, but not as indelibly as the performance of Giant's Causeway. In defeat, his reputation soared.

Europe were unfortunate in the Mile with Dansili narrowly beaten into third behind War Chant and North East Bound after experiencing trouble in running.

Petrushka, a winner of three Group One races in Europe, failed to do herself justice in the Filly & Mare Turf, coming home in fifth.

Harry Herbert, representing owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, reported: "Johnny Murtagh said she wasn't travelling like she can and wasn't giving him the right vibes. It was a flat run but it's been a long season."

Perfect Sting capitalised on Petrushka's below-par run, proving too good for Tout Charmant in the final furlong.

Crimplene's jockey Frankie Dettori said: "I went out there to win and it cost me third place.

"Races like that you've got to go for it. She just ran out of steam in that last half-furlong."

Trainer Clive Brittain said: "I knew she'd run a blinder. It just proves it always pays to come and try.

"In the morning press we had no chance, we were just wasting our time coming here. I'm glad she's proved what she can do."