Breeders' Cup Greats - Part 5

She inspired the whole American public and demanded a following like no horse for decades. Her brilliance on the racetrack was complemented by her charisma off it. Her daring running style, her pre-race dance routine, her unflappable temperament, and her precious unbeaten record all set her out from the crowd. She was like no horse that had ever gone before. She had it all. She was Zenyatta.

I had taken a passing interest in the European challenge at the Breeders' Cup for quite a few years before Zenyatta came along. But it wasn't until she started making waves that i began to take notice of the racing across the pond. She was electric and people were drawn to her like a magnet. She brought new people to racing in America and right around the world.

2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic

She didn't start her racing career until she was 3 but she made up for lost time by winning by 3 lengths on her debut in effortless style. She then followed up in a minor Allowance event to end her 3yo career but that was only a taster for the phenomenal set of results that were to come. At 4 she stepped up to graded company with similar ease. After 3 G1 and 3 G2 wins she headed for her first appearance at the Breeders' Cup in the Ladies Classic. Such was her apparent dominance over her own sex that she started as a 1/2 favourite. Fortunately for her growing band of supporters she obliged in the manner that her odds suggested to take her unbeaten record to 9.

2009 Breeders' Cup Classic

A further 4 victories (1 G2 and 3 G1) followed the following season so her record now stood at unbeaten in 13 races. At the end of her 5yo year she was set her toughest task yet. It was announced, much to the delight of the racing public, that she was to take on the very best the world had to offer in the Breeders' Cup Classic itself. Many shrewd judges doubted her ability to beat the boys. Her late running style never lent itself to wide margin wins and many thought that she would be found out when tackling the males for the first time. So, whilst she had been beating the girls on a regular basis, she had no form which could guarantee a similar outcome against the best of the boys. Rip Van Winkle, from the stable of Aidan O'Brien in Ireland, was favourite at 2/1 with Zenyatta next best at 100/30. But for any harbouring doubts, they were soon quickly forgotten as she swept from first to last to win a shade cosily. In so doing she became the first mare to take America's most prestigious prize.

2010 Breeders' Cup Classic

In 2010 she returned to defend her crown having racked up 5 consecutive G1 victories already that season. This time she started favourite at 11/8 against a very strong field. The additional hurdle standing in her way was that she was to face the dirt on this occasion. In 2009 she had won on synthetic but at Churchill Downs she would be faced with an unusual surface. The American media had jumped on the band wagon and she received coverage far beyond the normal racing press. She featured on the front cover's of mainstream magazines. Her following was unprecedented. As she headed towards her 20th and possibly final race, the anticipation was enormous. I watched the action live and i can honestly say that i have never quite experienced an atmosphere like it. I say that even though i was sitting in my room watching it on my computer. The atmosphere was something else. The people had come in their thousands and every single one of them wanted her to win.

She broke slowly and by the first turn was well off the back of the pack. This was not unusual since she normally raced in last before unleashing her devastating late run. But even by her standards she was a worrying distance from the lead. Going down the back straight Mike Smith started to niggle to ask her to close which started to send the alarm bells ringing. Rounding the home turn she was within reach and had passed a few of the stragglers, but it still seemed an impossible task.In the end the task was impossible but it was a measure of the mare's talent that the margin of defeat was just a head. She didn't deserve to lose but lose she did. But, even in defeat the race was all about Zenyatta. They say that nobody remembers who came second but this is an exception. This will not be remembered as the Classic that Blame won, it will be the Classic that Zenyatta lost.

It was not the result that anybody had wanted but in many ways defeat merely cemented her legacy. Her followers were stunned, but none more so than jockey Mike Smith. He blamed himself for her defeat and was distraught at the post-race press conference as he struggled to come to terms with what had happened.  Nevertheless, she was a brilliant horse and one that will remain in the legend of racing for all of time. Whenever a great mare, or a great horse for that matter, comes along Zenyatta will be a name with which they are compared and there can be few greater honours than that. What is certain is that very few will manage to surpass her exceptional achievements. Her unbeaten record was gone but her legacy was assured.

Zenyatta's Perfect 19 for 19