Wonder horse Flightline is on the brink of superstardom in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.
The world's top-rated thoroughbred puts his unbeaten record on the line in the meeting's showpiece event at Keeneland on Saturday night. Worth £24 million overall, the fixture crowns champions and anything but a win would be a big shock for its ardent fans.
Flightline pulverised the opposition by 19 lengths in a Grade 1 at Del Mar, to earn a rating just 1lb shy of all-time great Frankel. The late Sir Henry Cecil's pride and joy had 14 races, compared to five on the record of tonight's headline act.
Clockwatchers were mightily impressed with the way Flightline powered on at Del Mar, leaving Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer trailing.
"Whether you pick Secretariat's Belmont or any of those great Spectacular Bid races, whatever your favourite horse was of all time, his performance in that race was one of the best ever," said trainer John Sadler.
"As far as where he stands, that's up for the pundits. He's just a very good athlete, there's no doubt about that."
Flightline was widely heralded for his last performance, right up there with the greatest since Secretariat’s 31-length Belmont Stakes romp in 1973.
Classy challengers, including smooth Travers Stakes victor Epicenter and Life Is Good, chasing a Grade 1 hat-trick for Todd Pletcher's barn, have emerged at Keeneland.
The trainer of the first-named runner, Steve Asmussen, has his name on the 2017 roll of honour via Gun Runner and Curlin in 2007.
"He's physically stronger than he's ever been and his fastest race was his latest," Asmussen said about the bookies' second favourite.
