Talismanic (GB)

Godolphin’s Talismanic (GB) ($30.20) reached the front in deep stretch to prevail by a half-length over Beach Patrol with defending champion Highland Reel (IRE) another neck back in third in the 34th running of the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds and up on Breeders’ Cup Saturday at Del Mar racetrack.

Trained by Andre Fabre and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, Talismanic covered the 1 ½ miles on a firm turf course in a course-record 2:26.19. Talismanic, a 4-year-old son of Medaglia’Oro posted, his first Grade 1 victory in the Turf.

The victory for Barzalona came on his initial Breeders’ Cup mount. For Fabre, it was his fifth Breeders’ Cup victory and second in the Turf, having won with In the Wings at Belmont Park in 1990.

Oscar Performance, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), set the pace with Beach Patrol and Highland Reel tracking him all the way around with positions unchanged until upper stretch. There, Oscar Performance dropped back and Talismanic split horses to surge to the front.

Joe Osborne, Godolphin Chief Executive, commented on the firm course conditions at Del Mar: “Yes, it certainly helps. He's by Medaglia d'Oro, so you have to figure Medaglia d'Oro would do well over here, so that certainly was a factor. But I know Andre (Fabre) has always regarded this horse quite highly. So, yeah, I think we're certainly more concerned about fast ground. You could see today, he loved it.”

“Right I can’t believe it. I am thrilled to have won my first Breeders’ Cup race,” said an elated Barzalona. “I expected the horse to run well, but I’m not sure I thought I would win. Mr. Fabre is a great trainer.”