Color Of Fame has showed his class overnight for Australasia with a win in the ($2M, 2400m Breeders Cup Turf) at Churchill Downs. Showing great amounts of courage, Color Of Fame fought back after getting passed by the wonder 3yo Daredevil to win in a gutsy salute.
Color Of Fame set the pace from Malvern Hill and Trail Finder, with the Australian champion Camena's Thunder in fourth position. Behind them was Daredevil and then there was a mile back to the rest of the field, who would have to be Phar Lap to win from there. As they moved into the home straight Camena's Thunder broke down and was dropping back through the field, out came Daredevil, who wasn't in his usual front running role, hit the lead. It was a great burst of sprint but the burly NZ son of Quest For Fame fought back and somehow hit the lead, despite Daredevil's brilliant burst of speed. This is the moment when Color Of Fame became one of my favourite PF horses, he was so brave in fighting back and hitting the lead, sealing the deal for NZ.
Color Of Fame won well, breaking the hearts of his rivals like Vo Rogue and Might And Power before him and therefore won his second Breeders Cup Turf. Second was Kingston Dawn flashing home for second in a photo with Daredevil, with the consistent Tension in fourth. Behind him was the Arc winner Malvern Hill, who to be honest was pretty dour but game in defeat. In sixth was Arctic Slicker, who settled too far back and really run on late, not to disimilar was Fireball's run, trained by Royal Flush Farms. Camena's Thunder broke down but will still be ready for the (A$2m, 2000m Hong Kong Cup) at Sha Tin in a months time. I don't know the results of the rest of the horses but they settled way too far back and had geniune excuses.
The win of Color Of Fame takes his earnings to $10,476,000, with 13 wins from 22 starts. Chiknsmack has really shown great class in the training of this super star and likely plans include the (A$1.5m, 2400m Hong Kong Vase) against the mighty Heat Seeker and the (A$2m, 2000m Hong Kong Cup) at Sha Tin Hong Kong International day. Best of luck for Michael with those plans.
Other highlights of the meeting was the breaking of the PF world record earnings held by A Bus, broken by the champion mare Pegasus Song. She ran second to a rampaging Money Maker.
Other wins on the program were Chelsey with her first Breeders Cup win with Perfect Picture over Oprah in the Sprint, Find A Way's narrow win in the Endurance over the gallant leader Sinking Fear, Narsil and Lovely To See You, Regal Son's brilliant win for Laurie in the Breeders Cup Classic, Princess Royale's win over She's A Prize in the Filly/Mare, Believer and Beauty Queen winning the 2yo events and Ton Of Luck showing great class beating Hepatic Flap in the Mile, with Kennys Charm and my old bugger All For Dansilver getting a check for fourth.
