THE Todd Pletcher-trained Vino Rossi gained compenstion for a disqualification in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes last time out, when he came with a strong run up the stretch to catch McKinzie and go on to win the $6,000,000 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

Giving jockey Irad Ortiz Jr a big-race double following his success in the Turf on Bricks And Mortar, Vino Rosso stormed past McKinzie in the closing stages.

The four-year-old son of Curlin, racing in Mike Repole's colours, settled in fourth as blinkered War Of Will set the pace to a half mile in :47.16 with McKinzie and Mongolian Groom in contention. Patiently handled by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Vino Rosso readily responded when given the signal to sweep up to tackle McKinzie for the lead entering the turn, battled with his rival until mid-stretch, where he powered clear for a three-length score.

McKinzie held second with Higher Power a good distance back in third and the mare Elate fourth. It was the first Classic win for both trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Ortiz, who was winning his fourth race of this Breeders’ Cup weekend.

Pletcher – winning the Classic for the first time – said: “It’s not very often you come into a race and you feel the horse is doing so well that everything was in place.

“It was one of those times when everything went right. The race unfolded perfectly, just as we thought it would.

“Irad was very confident in the paddock and he did a great job. The horse has put in some perfect works at Belmont, he was crawling out of his skin – we were on pins and needles so well was the horse coming here."

The winner was bred by John Gunther, whose Glenwood Farm also produced Triple Crown hero Justify, He is scheduled to take up stallion duties at Spendthrift Farm for 2020.

Vino Rosso was bought for $410,000 at Keeneland's September Sale and won his first top-level triumph in the Grade I Gold Cup at Santa Anita in May, he was third to McKinzie and Yoshida in the Whitney and was first past the post in the Jockey Club in September, but was disqualified to second for interference.

There was an unfortunate breakdown in the latter stages as Mongolian Groom fractured a hind leg.