To view the Breeders' Cup Marathon, click here.

by Frank Angst

While making his first career start outside of Ireland, regally bred Man of Iron felt right at home on the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park on Friday.

A two-time winner on the Polytrack surface at Dundalk, the half brother of Belmont Stakes (G1) winners Rags to Riches and Jazil launched a stretch rally along the rail to just edge Cloudy’s Knight in the final strides of the $454,500 Breeders’ Cup Marathon. The top two finishers were separated by only about four inches at the finish line in the 1¾-mile race

“Johnny called it right, said he’d be taking his time,” co-owner John Magnier said of Johnny Murtagh’s winning ride. Kentucky-bred Man of Iron, who is out of 2007 Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister, is owned by Magnier’s wife, Susan; Derrick Smith; and Michael Tabor.

The victory marked the first stakes win for Man of Iron and the third on a synthetic surface for the three-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt.

“It was his first time over the course so I let him go along without any hurry,” said Murtagh, who earned his third Breeders’ Cup win. “I asked him at the three-eighths pole and he responded beautifully.”

Man of Iron covered the distance in 2:54.11, establishing the track standard at the distance on the surface.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien secured his fourth Breeders’ Cup victory.

“That was brilliant,” O’Brien said. “We’re delighted.”

Nine-year-old Lord Avie gelding Cloudy’s Knight, who entered off a pair of Grade 3 wins on turf at Kentucky Downs and Keeneland Race Course, opened a clear lead in the stretch before Man of Iron edged past him just before the wire.

“He was trying, trying,” jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. said of Cloudy’s Knight. “I looked at the other jockey and said, ‘Did your horse get it?” …The horse gave such a gallant effort.”

Ladbrokes St. Leger Stakes (Eng-G1) winner and 7-to-5 favorite Mastery (GB) challenged Cloudy’s Knight for the lead in early stretch but could not get by the eventual runner-up and settled for third.

With Man of Iron’s victory, the first two editions of the Marathon have been captured by European-based horses who prepped on Polytrack. Last year’s winner, Muhannak (Ire), finished fifth in Friday’s race and is winless in seven starts this season.

Man of Iron has won four of ten career starts. The $270,000 winner’s share of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon elevated his lifetime bankroll to $325,617.
 
For an Equibase chart, click here.

For video of Man of Iron's trainer Aidan O'Brien, click here.

For video of Man of Iron's jockey John Murtagh, click here.

For video of Cloudy's Knight's jockey Rosemary Homeister, click here.

For video of Cloudy's Knight's trainer Jonathan Sheppard, click here.

For more quotes, click here.

Frank Angst is senior writer for Thoroughbred Times