You have to wonder whether they were somehow separated at birth. Despite her enforced absence from the Breeders' Cup, memories of Zarkava's dominance in Europe were revived when Zenyatta achieved a similar pinnacle of excellence across the Pond. Two fillies, an ocean apart, both blessed by a rare and precious talent.

Zenyatta did not just win the Ladies' Classic here on Friday. She rounded on her opponents from last place, unleashing a burst of speed last seen when Zarkava scythed them down in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. It was a virtuoso performance from a filly now unbeaten in nine races.

Refreshingly, more - much more - will be seen of Zenyatta. With Zarkava whisked away to the paddocks, there can be no meeting of these mercurial talents. And therein lies the sole, significant difference between two horses that have developed a passionate following on either side of the Atlantic.

Those devoted to Zenyatta can anticipate further hedonistic rushes as the four-year-old gallops on to greater heights. For fans of Zarkava, all the future holds is the promise of a sibling who will do well to be only half as good. How envious Europe is of the American desire to race.

It did not bode well for Zenyatta when she demonstrated her own impatient streak in the paddock. The darling of the California turf looked agitated enough, yet she was a bastion of authority in the race itself. Having loitered in rear, Zenyatta caught fire rounding the home turn before she sauntered away from Cocoa Beach in the home stretch.

Zenyatta is trained by John Shirreffs for Jerry Moss, the "M" in the A&M music label to which bands such as The Police were contracted. The Shirreffs/Moss alliance also teamed up to win the Kentucky Derby with Giacomo three years ago.

Even to European eyes, Zenyatta's brilliance more than atoned for the lack of European success in five races that precede the nine-race Breeders' Cup extravaganza on Saturday. Heart Shaped, trained by Aidan O'Brien, came closest when her late flourish narrowly failed to carry her past Maram in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf.

Johnny Murtagh, who rode the filly, was obliged to race wide all the way by a high draw. "Johnny was distraught because he thought he got the filly beat," O'Brien said, "but I thought he gave her a great ride. She is definitely one to look forward to next year."

A strong European contingent for the Filly & Mare Turf met with stiff local opposition and failed to contst the finish. Visit came closest, having struck the front one furlong from the finish, but her stamina ebbed to the extent that she was swamped in the closing stages.

Victory went to Forever Together, who is at least trained by an Englishman in Jonathan Sheppard - the man who saddled Flatterer to finish runner-up in the 1986 Champion Hurdle.