News information
Marathon man scores for O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh got the perfect start to Breeders' Cup 2009 by winning the opening Marathon with Man Of Iron at Santa Anita.
The three-year-old Giant's Causeway colt, sent off at 13-2, just prevailed in a thrilling finish against the nine-year-old Cloudy's Knight (10-1). St Leger hero Mastery - sent off the 7-4 favourite - 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 were closing rapidly on the inside.
With a furlong to go it looked like the Ballydoyle colt might score cosily but Cloudy's Knight battled on really gamely and only just failed in a desperate finish. Mastery stayed on at one pace for third.
Eddie Ahern was soon sending out distress signals on Father Time, who trailed home well beaten.
