Breeders' Cup review: World Approval wins the Mile as Talismanic takes Turf glory

World Approval repelled the strong European challenge to lift the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar.

Much attention surrounded the likes of Richard Fahey's Ribchester and Aidan O'Brien's Roly Poly, but neither were able to get in a really serious blow on the winner, although the former was just out of the places and the latter came home well.

In the end it was Roly Poly's stablemate Lancaster Bomber - second in the Juvenile Turf 12 months ago - who got closest to the favourite under Seamie Heffernan, with Blackjackcat third and Suedois a highly creditable fourth for David O'Meara and Danny Tudhope.

O'Brien said of Lancaster Bomber: "He ran a great race, he's very comfortable at a mile on fast ground. He's a proven traveller, having run well at this meeting a year ago, and he's come home as strongly as anything. He's a very good colt."

He added: "With Roly Poly we knew we would have to use her speed early, but I was pleased with both of them."

Ribchester was fifth and Fahey said of the four-time Group One winner, who now heads for retirement: "Horses like this don't come along very often, he's been a wonderful racehorse and this was the place to bring him for his last run.

"He just didn't come home as strongly as he usually does, but I can't blame anything to do with the draw or the track as the race went to plan and I was delighted where he was until turning for home.

"He's an absolute superstar, a wonderful horse to us and the Godolphin team. He's tough, very quick and I'm sure he'll make a super stallion.

"Godolphin are very sporting and left it to me (whether to run). There's a little regret, as it's the first time he's been out of the money all year. It's about winning, but he'll make a fantastic stallion."

His rider William Buick, who struck earlier on the card with Wuheida, said: "It would have been wonderful to top what has been a wonderful day for me on this horse, as I owe him so much, but at the business end of the race he didn't seem to have his usual kick.

"He's been a fantastic horse, Richard and the team have trained him so well. It would have been nice to go out on a high today, we were on the tail of the winner, but he didn't quite travel like I wanted him to, although he still ran a huge race.

"It was a complete blanket for the placings and he was only in the QEII two weeks ago. The horse has done nothing wrong, it's the first time he's run two turns and he's never run a bad race in his life. He has to be a champion."

Winning trainer Mark Casse, who struck in the same race in 2015 with Tepin, said: "I was pretty happy (with how the race was going). Johnny (Velazquez) rode a great race and he's a great horse."

French master Andre Fabre bagged a Breeders' Cup winner with Talismanic claiming the Turf at Del Mar.

Owned by Godolphin, the Mickael Barzalona-ridden four-year-old was last seen finishing third in the Prix Foy at Chantilly on Arc trials day and was given a fine ride by his Derby-winning jockey, saving ground and switching off the rail at the perfect moment for his challenge.

Defending champion Highland Reel appeared to have a perfect trip just ahead of the winner, but Ryan Moore was getting to work rounding the final turn before digging deep to challenge late on. Try as he might to fight back after briefly being swamped by the winner, Aidan O'Brien's money-spinning five-year-old had to settle for third, just being beaten for second by Beach Patrol.

Barzalona said: "I'm very pleased. He's a star at home and everybody loves him. He's very easy to ride. He (Fabre) is a master, I have to thank him."

O'Brien said Highland Reel could potentially run again before retiring to stud: "I think he ran a very good race, we will take him home now and see how he is and think about going to Hong Kong with him."

The unplaced Decorated Knight will head for stallion duties after what has been a glittering season, one in which he has won the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

His trainer Roger Charlton said: "It's been a long year, and he has been on the go since February and I think it showed. He was very much on his toes in the paddock and got quite warm in the preliminaries. An announcement is forthcoming, but he will go to stud now. He's been a great servant, he's won a million pounds and you can't complain about that."

Good Magic chose the biggest juvenile race in the US to break his maiden tag as he stormed to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Ryan Moore pushed the Aidan O'Brien-trained Dewhurst winner US Navy Flag straight into the lead for the early part of the race, but he was brushed aside just after halfway and Chad Brown's Good Magic burst into the lead on the home turn under Jose Ortiz.

The $1million purchase never looked back after that, winning easily from Solomini, with hot favourite Bolt D'Oro third after being forced to race very wide throughout the race.

O'Brien said of US Navy Flag, who also won the Middle Park Stakes this season: "As you can see he's a fast horse and is going to be a sprinter next year."

Brown said of the winner: "It was a tremendous ride from Jose and I'm so proud of this horse. He's always been a very talented horse and it all came together today. The reward was greater than the risk to run. We took a shot and it worked."