ON a night of shock results at the Breeders’ Cup, World Approval was a welcome winning favourite in the Mile at Del Mar on Saturday.

The five-year-old has proved a revelation since stepping down in trip this season and it’s no great surprise as his half-brother Miesque’s Approval won the Mile in 2006.

Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by John Velazquez, the grey gelding asserted himself in the closing stages to account for the Aidan O’Brien-trained Lancaster Bomber by about two lengths. In a blanket finish for the places, local outsider Blackjackcat was third, just ahead of David O’Meara’s Suedois and Richard Fahey’s Ribchester.

Fahey said of his stable star, who now retires to Kildangan Stud: “I slightly regret coming here as he has never been out of the placings before, but he’s been an absolute superstar and let’s hope he breeders horses like himself, tough and quick.”

Roly Poly, stable companion of Lancaster Bomber, struggled from her outside draw and was never involved.

FULL BREEDERS' CUP COVERAGE & ANALYSIS IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEK