THE first running of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday exceeded expectations in attracting California Chrome and Arrogate – two of the best American horses of the modern era – but dipped below them in the event itself, with the former running no sort of race, leaving the latter to dismiss second-rate opposition.

That, Arrogate did with comfort, but his achievement should not be downplayed, for it came in a fast time and after being close to a strong pace throughout. The closing stages were understandably slower than par, which helped the closer Shaman Ghost to get to within five lengths of Juddmonte’s superstar.