THE Turf was the only win for an Irish-trained horse at this year’s Breeders’ Cup, with the likes of Roly Poly, Intricately, Hydrangea and Alice Springs especially disappointing. But Lancaster Bomber ran a fine race in second behind 114-rated Oscar Performance in what was probably just an average Juvenile Turf.

That effort was also significant in that it gave another boost to the form of the Dewhurst, won by Churchill from Lancaster Bomber, following the Group 1 wins of the race’s fifth and fourth, Rivet and Thunder Snow.

Seventh Heaven was another Irish raider beaten at fairly short odds, in the Filly & Mare Turf, but she probably ran well enough given 10 furlongs on firm going and a tight track was never likely to see her shine.

The race went to Queen’s Trust – one of only two European-trained winners at the 2016 Breeders’ Cup – who had looked a quicker horse than Seventh Heaven previously. Timeform US have her registering a personal best of 126.

Other notable wins were posted by Tourist in the Mile (129 rating, and just 0.02s outside the track record), Obviously in the Turf Sprint (126), Drefong in the Sprint (126) and Classic Empire in the Juvenile (124). The last-named, who is unbeaten in all his completed starts, deserves to be regarded as the best two-year-old in North America, and possibly in the world.