Racing:Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh got the perfect start to Breeders' Cup meeting when Man Of Iron won the opening Marathon at Santa Anita tonight.
The three-year-old Giant's Causeway colt just prevailed in a thrilling finish against the nine-year-old Cloudy's Knight while St Leger hero Mastery took third.
Murtagh settled Man Of Iron towards the rear of the field in the early stages, with the more fancied Mastery and Father Time sitting just off the front rank.
But Cloudy's Knight swept to the front rounding the top of the home stretch with Frankie Dettori on Mastery giving chase.
But in behind them Murtagh had made stealthy progress on Man Of Iron and they closed rapidly on the inside.
With a furlong to go it looked like the Ballydoyle colt might score cosily but Cloudy's Knight battled on gamely and only just failed in a desperate finish.
O'Brien's Lillie Langtry went off a hot favourite for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but she was well beaten as Tapitsfly took the spoils.
The Ballydoyle filly was settled in seventh in the early stages and Murtagh tried to move her into contention down the back stretch.
But as the field reached the top of the stretch it was clear she was struggling badly, and she found nothing in the closing stages to finish out of the places.
Up front meanwhile the grey Tapitsfly was fighting out a great battle with Rose Catherine, who had cut out the early pace.
Deep inside the final furlong they were still locked in combat, but in the end Robby Alborado's mount just had too much. House Of Grace took third spot.
She Be Wild at 8-1 came with a powerful stretch run down the inside to score in the Juvenile Fillies.
Always A Princess took the field along during the early stages and she was still at the head of affairs two furlongs from home.
But as the 7-2 favourite Blind Luck, who had every chance, failed to quicken inside the closing stages it was Julien Leparoux who brought the Wayne Catalano-trained She Be Wild with a daring run up the inside.
They scored comfortably from Beautician (8-1), who ran well for second while Blind Luck filled third spot.