October 29, 2001	Monday	Shaba'an 11, 1422

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ELMONT (New York), Oct 28: Tiznow, ridden by Chris McCarron, salvaged home pride on Saturday by outduelling European threat Sakhee and becoming the only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice.

The crowd roared home Jay Robbins’s four-year old, plagued by injury this year, in an epic struggle that more than matched his dramatic win over Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway 12 months ago.

It stopped a three-race European winning streak as Godolphin’s Fantastic Light coasted to Turf glory, Johannesburg burst U.S. sensation Officer’s bubble in the Juvenile and Banks Hill walloped the Filly and Mare Turf field.

“I really had doubts he could get back to Sakhee, but he’s game, very game,” said Robbins.

Europe’s other big threat, Aidan O’Brien’s English and Irish Derby winner Galileo, was beaten early and finished sixth.

At a gusty Belmont Park, Godolphin’s gamble of switching Sakhee, so impressive in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month, from the Turf to the Classic failed by a nose.

“It’s only three weeks since Paris and his first run on dirt - this must be some horse,” said jockey Frankie Dettori. “Full credit to Tiznow though, he really battled.”

Godolphin earlier enjoyed the satisfaction of Fantastic Light’s imperious victory in the $2 million Turf, paying rich dividends for the Dubai operation’s late decision to reroute their globetrotting star to the race.

Travelling with supreme ease throughout, Dettori had the luxury of looking round as he pulled clear early in the stretch and was always holding a late run from O’Brien’s Milan.

Godolphin only decided this week to switch Fantastic Light — Saturday’s only favourite to oblige — away from a third and deciding duel with old rival Galileo in the Classic. “Whatever we did at least we got one,” said Dettori.

Attendance held up despite security worries in the wake of last month’s attacks on nearby New York city. A 53,000 crowd saw O’Brien’s Johannesburg stamp himself as the world’s best two-year old in leaving top U.S. juvenile Officer’s reputation in tatters.

Johannesburg showed a searing turn of foot to cut down duelling leaders Officer and Siphonic, giving a first Breeders’ Cup win for O’Brien and jockey Mick Kinane.

Jubilant Irish supporters poured onto the track to celebrate unbeaten Johannesburg’s fourth Group One win of the year, following big-race triumphs in England, France and Ireland.

“He’s been a champion every step of the way through the year,” said Kinane.

Officer — the shortest favorite of the day and seen by some as a sure thing for next year’s U.S. Triple Crown races - faded badly behind Repent in second and Siphonic in third.

No Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner has ever won the Kentucky Derby but owner Michael Tabor said a trip back to the U.S. next May was possible.

Earlier, Squirtle Squirt buried Bobby Frankel’s Breeders’ Cup jinx, wearing down Xtra Heat in a tight finish to the $1 million Sprint.

Squirtle Squirt gave California-based Frankel a first Breeders’ Cup win in 39 attempts, while jockey Jerry Bailey equalled Pat Day’s record of 12 Breeders’ Cup wins set earlier in the day.

It had looked like Frankel might miss out again after Flute was only seventh in the Distaff and You fourth in the Juvenile Fillies.

Val Royal powered to Mile victory in record time, capping a gutsy comeback from a series of injuries.

Julio Canani’s charge, a 6-1 shot, came from well back in the field to overcome Forbidden Apple by 1-3/4 lengths. “He ran like a Mercedes today,” said Canani.

Former French-trained Val Royal showed no sign of the tendon and foot problems that have restricted him to just three runs in the last two years as he bolted home on firm going in a Breeders Cup Mile record of 1:32.05.

“Julio Canani has shown a lot of patience and has just done an unbelievable job,” said jockey Jose Valdivia. The favorite, Godolphin’s Noverre, was only seventh.

Unbridled Elaine, ridden by Day, flew to a last-gasp win in the $2 million Distaff in a race marred by a freak pre-race accident to second favorite Exogenous.

Exogenous reared up as the horses were entering the track and flipped over, crashing her head on the dirt.

After writhing on the ground Flint Schulhofer’s filly was sedated and taken away in an equine ambulance to be treated for head trauma. Although the accident looked serious vets later reported the horse much improved.—Reuters