Racing:While Sea The Stars enthralled Europe this summer, Zenyatta has captivated America and the star mare earned the ultimate prize when stretching her unbeaten run to 14 with a last-to-first sweep in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
Her running style and the fact she had yet to square up to colts and geldings had divided the United States' racing community, but the five-year-old answered all of her critics with a mind-blowing performance.
Just three members of the fairer sex had tested the water in the Classic in the previous 25 runnings and Jolypha fared best of all with her third-placed effort in 1992.
Zenyatta faced a strong field for the €2million highlight including Aidan O'Brien's Rip Van Winkle, who broke from the gates as the 2-1 favourite.
The start of the race was delayed as Quality Road played up behind and stalls before eventually being withdrawn, which caused the whole field to be reloaded.
The 100-30 chance then broke on her incorrect left lead leg as jockey Mike Smith restrained the John Shirreffs-trained mare stone last of the 12 runners.
She still had half the field to pass entering the short home run but last year's Ladies' Classic heroine made her rivals look like statues as she forged clear to score by a length.
East Coast Turf champion Gio Ponti handled the Pro-Ride surface with aplomb to take second with Henry Cecil's Champion Stakes winner Twice Over in third.
Rip Van Winkle emptied quickly on the dash to the wire and was 10th of the 12 finishers.
Zenyatta's win capped a mammoth weekend for Hollywood Park trainer Shirreffs after Life Is Sweet emulated Zenyatta with success in Friday's Ladies' Classic.
Shirreffs said: "When she got out and started to come with her big challenge I got excited and when she crossed the finishing line in front it was unbelievable.
"Tears are coming to my eyes and I just can't believe it. What a great, great filly.
"I love everyone here. They cheer for her, they clap for her and she does a little dance for them - what a relationship.
"She has really grown and developed and plays to the crowd.
"It has been an amazing Breeders' Cup. In my yard Life Is Sweet is a princess, but Zenyatta is a queen."
Her owner Jerry Moss is the founder of A & M records whose acts included Supertramp and The Police and it is after the latter's third album Zenyatta Mondatta the winner is named.
Moss said: "We are over the moon. She deserved her chance and performed and beaten them all.
"She is back safe and now has an unbeaten record for the books. I can't thank Mike and John enough for getting us here.
"She is a lot more genuine than a lot of the stars I have looked after and gives more back.
"I haven't talked about her future but that will probably be her last race. She has given what she has and deserves to go out with her record intact."
Smith is the most successful jockey of current times at the Breeders' Cup, and he said: "I was a little concerned at what happened at the start.
"When she went back in the gate I didn't want to move her, but then I thought she might not move period when the gates opened so I was worried.
"When she jumped she was on the wrong lead but eventually she got onto her right lead and warmed to it.
"At the half-mile pole the field was stacked up in front of me and I thought there was no way I could get round, but they parted like the sea.
"I kicked on but she heard the crowd and started to pose and prick her ears. I got after her and she galloped on.
"I think she must be sent from God.
"It takes an incredible, incredible mare to beat the colts, but her stride and size is unbelievable."
Cecil had broken his Breeders' Cup duck the previous day with Midday and Twice Over was beaten a little over three lengths into third.
Cecil said: "He's run the best race of his life and just met a great filly."
Owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager, Teddy Grimthorpe, added: "We will certainly look at Dubai after this and consider a shot at the World Cup. As for Hong Kong, I'm not so sure."
Murtagh added of Rip Van Winkle: "He was hanging a little bit left and I think a hard year might have left its mark on him. For me he is a miler."