Talismanic performance from Godolphin in Breeders' Cup Turf

Andre Fabre's Talismanic provided Mickael Barzalona with his first Breeders' Cup win (EclipseSportswire)

French master Andre Fabre bagged a Breeders' Cup winner with Talismanic claiming the Turf at Del Mar.

Owned by Godolphin, the Mickael Barzalona-ridden four-year-old was last seen finishing third in the Prix Foy at Chantilly on Arc trials day and was given a fine ride by his Derby-winning jockey, saving ground and switching off the rail at the perfect moment for his challenge.

Defending champion Highland Reel appeared to have a perfect trip just ahead of the winner, but Ryan Moore was getting to work rounding the final turn before digging deep to challenge late on.

Try as he might to fight back after briefly being swamped by the winner, Aidan O'Brien's money-spinning five-year-old had to settle for third, just being beaten for second by Beach Patrol.

Barzalona said: "I'm very pleased. He's a star at home and everybody loves him. He's very easy to ride.

"He (Fabre) is a master, I have to thank him."

Talismanic could be in line for a trip to Dubai for the Dubai Sheema Classic (EclipseSportswire)

O'Brien said Highland Reel could potentially run again before retiring to stud: "I think he ran a very good race, we will take him home now and see how he is and think about going to Hong Kong with him."

The unplaced Decorated Knight will head for stallion duties after what has been a glittering season, one in which he has won the Jebel Hatta in Dubai, the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

His trainer Roger Charlton said: "It's been a long year, and he has been on the go since February and I think it showed. He was very much on his toes in the paddock and got quite warm in the preliminaries.

"An announcement is forthcoming, but he will go to stud now. He's been a great servant, he's won a million pounds and you can't complain about that."