NEW YORK, Oct 24: The eagerly awaited final showdown between Godolphin champion Fantastic Light and dual Derby winner Galileo is off.

The pair had been due to meet in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Belmont Park Saturday night.

But Godolphin announced Wednesday that Fantastic Light would run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf with their Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sakhee taking on Galileo in the Classic.

It will be a first run on dirt for Sakhee, who ran away with the Arc earlier this month to add to his dominant win in the York International in August.

“The decision was taken this morning and Frankie Dettori will ride both colts,” the Godolphin website said.

The news came as a surprise but was foreshadowed by Tuesday’s final serious workouts by both colts.

The workouts had been brought forward 24 hours to give Godolphin longer to consider the races - the Classic over a mile and a quarter on dirt or the Turf over a mile and a half on grass.

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “I am happy with Sakhee - he is ready. I think he handled the dirt this morning very well. He can run now in the Classic if owner Sheikh Hamdan wants.

“The decision will come from him. The full list of options are open for both horses. The last time Sakhee worked on the dirt he was a little bit slow.

“Today he handled the dirt very well, he moved great and his action was good. I am happy with him and Fantastic Light. The times were good for both of them and there is not much difference between them.”

Dettori had said on Tuesday: “You’ve got to keep all the options open to the last minute. Fantastic Light and Sakhee are both well and ready to go. Whichever race they go for, they are going to run well.”

Both Fantastic Light and Sakhee have been working well on the Belmont Park surface in recent days.

Sheikh Hamdan’s decision robs racegoers of a third and deciding duel between Fantastic Light and Irish champion Galileo.

Galileo beat Fantastic Light to lift England’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in July before the Godolphin five-year-old took revenge in the Irish Champion Stakes.—Reuters