CIGAR failed in his brave bid to set an American record of 17 consecutive wins when finishing second to the Richard Mandella-trained Dare And Go in the Grade One Pacific Classic (10f) at Del Mar, California, on Saturday.

The race degenerated into a nightmare for the 9 to 1 on shot with jockey Jerry Bailey electing to get into a speed duel up front with Siphon so as not to let the Holly wood Gold Cup hero build up a big lead.

The tactics back fired badly as both pacesetters ran out of steam and this set the race up perfectly for the 35 to 1 winner who is Siphon's stablemate.

Dare And Go had little difficulty in passing a tired Cigar in the straight and hacked up under Alex Solis by three and a half lengths with ears pricked. Siphon was a further seven lengths back in third.

Inevitably there was some criticism for the way that Bailey rode Cigar. However, Cigar's trainer, Bill Mott, sportingly admitted that trainer Mandella "deserved his success".

He added: "We have absolutely no excuses - except maybe for the fast pace. Naturally I am disappointed to have lost and disappointed in myself that we didn't plan the race a little differently," said Mott.

Bailey said: "I could tell down the backstretch that he wasn't full of running like he normally is, and I knew once I got to the three furlong pole that he would be in trouble if something came at him. I'm not putting the blame on him. I didn't think that it was a killer pace," he added.

Cigar equalled Citation's 20th century American record of 16 consecutive wins last month at Arlington International, but this was simply a case of a bridge too far.

The former John Hills runner, Broadway Flyer, gave Cigar's trainer some consolation by taking the Grade One Sword Dancer Handicap (12f) by six lengths at Saratoga on Saturday.