THIS was billed as another Breeders’ Cup bonanza for the European horses. And so it proved. The locals were even starting to talk of an unfair advantage for the overseas contingent, who last year took home a record five wins from Santa Anita and, yesterday, surpassed that number when Conduit defended his title in the Breeders’ Cup turf, bringing trainer Michael Stoute his fifth Breeders’ Cup success.

Despite the European success, all American eyes were on Zenyatta, the “Queen of the West Coast” who was bidding to become the first mare to win the £2m Classic. It was her first race against the colts. Pretty well all the debate, the hype and the hysteria had centred on the giant mare, unbeaten in 13 races, whose hold-up style of racing and sweet-natured personality has captured the imagination of the wider America public.

The European challenge was lead by Rip Van Winkle, who has endured a torrid season with injury and a supreme champion called Sea The Stars, and Twice Over, bidding to bring Henry Cecil his second Breeders’ Cup victory after Midday’s win on the opening day. There was drama at the start as Quality Road, who refused to go into the stalls, was withdrawn before the off.

Zenyatta, as usual, was settled at the very back of the field by jockey Mike Smith but, as usual, the five-year-old flew through the field to peg back the leaders and win comfortably in the end. Victory brought trainer John Shirreffs an extraordinary double as he had won the Ladies’ Classic the day before with Life Is Sweet. “There are tears in my eyes,” said the normally unemotional former Vietnam veteran. “What a great, great feeling and what a great, great, horse.”

Even the Europeans were eclipsed by the record-breaking Zenyatta, named after a Police album. But there were plenty of memories to take back to Europe. Conduit was given a perfect ride by champion jockey Ryan Moore, who had to be at his most forceful to haul back long-time leader, Presious Passion. Moore once deserted Conduit, who then won the St Leger for Frankie Dettori, but he has not made the same mistake again and the four-year-old rewarded his belated loyalty yesterday. Moore made the decisive move of the race by nipping up inside stablemate Spanish Moon on the turn into the straight but Conduit still only had a neck to spare at the line.

“I didn’t want to go wide and get beat,” Moore said. This has been a great horse for me, a once in a lifetime horse.” For the taciturn Moore, that is a once in a lifetime accolade too. By adding another £1.1m to his earnings, Conduit has also been one of the most profitable fhorses for his owners at Ballymacoll Stud, his trainer and rider.

If Vale Of York was a shock winner for Ahmed Ajtebi and Godolphin in the Juvenile race, the star of the undercard was the brilliant French filly Goldikova, who emulated the legendary Miesque more than 20 years ago by successfully defending her title in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Even the Americans stood to applaud the performance of Freddie Head’s four-year-old and the brinkmanship of the man on board, Olivier Peslier, whose coolness and driving finish even brought comparison with Lester Piggott’s compelling victory on Royal Academy 19 years ago.

All question marks over Goldikova’s form and fitness were dispelled as the filly defied the prevailing conditions, which seemed to favour the frontrunners, by running five wide off the bend and coming with a long, sweeping run to land the £750,000 first prize.

“Last year I had a good draw, so it was easier,” said Peslier. “This year was completely different. I had to sit quiet and just see what happened. I didn’t want to fight up the inside so I came down the middle. She’s an amazing filly.”

Goldikova’s victory brought the European tally to five after Ahmed Ajtebi, a Dubai national, had enjoyed his first Breeders’ Cup success on Vale Of York and Pounced took the opener for John Gosden. Ajtebi, who benefits from the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed, owner of Godolphin, has not always enjoyed similar acclaim from press and public in Britain. Ajtebi kept the ride ahead of the regular stable jockey, Frankie Dettori. Sheikh Mohammed’s faith in the former camel driver was duly rewarded as Ajtebi brought the two-year-old with a strong run to snatch victory from Lookin At Lucky on the line.

The Coolmore duo of Beethoven and Alfred Nobel, both fancied to give Aidan O’Brien his second victory of the meeting, suffered most from a difficult draw and a rough race.

The Europeans took the first race yesterday when Pounced gave John Gosden his second successive Juvenile Turf. Gosden had been telling anybody who would listen that the lightly raced Pounced was at least as good as Donativum, who won the race a year ago, and both he and the market were proved right.

Ironically, Frankie Dettori’s ninth Breeders’ Cup winner was provided by a rival stable as Ajtebi was nominated to ride Buzzword, Godolphin’s challenger. Whatever the politics of it, Dettori used all his experience to navigate the well-named Pounced up the inside rail, exploiting a timely gap coming off the final turn.