Flightline simply stunning in the Breeders' Cup Classic
- Planet Sport writer
- 5 November 2022
Flightline delivered a commanding performance to win the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and cement his place as one of the world's best racehorses.
The four-year-old headed to Keeneland unbeaten in five starts having recorded the second highest Beyer speed figure since 1991 when stepping up to 10 furlongs with aplomb at Del Mar in September.
Facing the toughest cast of his career, John Sadler's star proved he was fully deserving of his reputation with a stunning victory in Kentucky.
The Tapit colt was away well in the hands of Flavien Prat and hot on the tail of the front-running Life Is Good as the field ran to the first turn.
The pair were at least 10 lengths clear of the chasing pack as the race developed down the far side.
Flightline's jockey was content to stalk last year's Dirt Mile champion and Prat was motionless as he took a lead into straight.
The rider soon nudged the accelerator and Flightline put the $6million contest to bed in a matter of strides.
He took off for a ceremonial waltz up the stretch to the wire where he was eight length and a quarter lengths clear of the runner-up Olympiad.
