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Domedriver upset heavy favorite Rock of Gibraltar in the Mile.

World Thoroughbred Championships
Breeders' Cup Mile Results

Date: 10/26/02

Juvenile   Juv.Fillies   Sprint   Distaff   F&M Turf   Mile   Turf   Classic

In the Mile, trainer Aidan O'Brien and Team Coolmore sent out their highly regarded Rock of Gibraltar, winner of an unprecedented seven straight Group 1 races, to try for number eight. The public showed its respect betting him down to 4-5 in the field of 14.

69-1 longshot Boston Common set the early pace, getting fractions of 23.86 and 48.68, with 5-1 second choice Good Journey pressing him to his outside. On the far turn, jockey Pat Day sent Good Journey to the lead which he held through the early stretch, getting the 3/4 in 1:12.96. French-based 26-1 longshot Domedriver came through from ninth early, with a furious stretch drive, collaring Good Journey 75 yards out and hanging on to win by 3/4 length in a time of 1:36.92 for the mile over yielding turf. Rock of Gibraltar was slow out of the gate and had to come from second last after 6 furlongs to nosed out Good Journey in the final strides and get up for second, battling traffic trouble most of the way and having to check when stablemate Landseer broke down on the turn.

The Mile

Purse: $1,000,000     Distance: 1 mile turf

Pgm  Horse              Jockey            Win   Place  Show
 5   Domedriver         Thulliez        54.00   18.20  5.80
10   Rock of Gibraltar  Kinane                   3.40  2.60
 4   Good Journey       Day                            3.60


Domedriver was a surprise in the Mile, defeating heavy favorite Rock of Gibraltar by 3/4 of a length.
Winning Time: 1:36.92 $2 Exacta 5-10 152.60 $2 Trifecta 5-10-4 984.00 $1 Superfecta 5-10-4-1 4,352.80 $2 Head2Head 4 over 2 3.20
Results chart Race 5


The start of the Mile with Rock of Gibraltar definitely last of all. He was not standing well in the gate, leaning back a bit, and the start just caught him unprepared.


A wide angle view of the finish with Domedriver on the rail, Good Journey between horses, and Rock of Gibraltar driving on the outside. Winning jockey Thierry Thulliez said, "It was a very good run. This horse likes soft ground and a speed race. I had a good start. I just followed Beat Hollow, rated and finished well. I knew there was a chance Rock of Gibraltar would not have a good start, but "the Rock" did not have a good race today.


Domedriver in the winner's circle. Winning owner Maria Niarchos-Gouce of Flaxman Holdings was stuck in an elevator during the Mile. "We didn't see the race. We still haven't seen the race but we heard we won."


Domedriver in the post parade. Winning trainer Pascal Bary said, "He's a very nice horse. He loves this kind of ground (yielding), it was much like it is in France. I told Thierry (jockey Thulliez) to save as much ground as possible because I think he can win by doing that and it worked out for us." He will send Domedriver home first and possibly to Hong Kong.


Second place finisher Rock of Gibraltar was hard to control in the post parade. In Europe, they don't do post parades, but take off immediately from the gap to warm up which is what he was trying to do.


Beaten favorite Rock of Gibraltar returns after the race. Jockey Mick Kinane said, "He was a bit fractious in the gate and I missed the break. I just had to bide my time after that. The horse that broke down [Landseer] came over when I wanted to make my move, and I lost my momentum."


Third place finisher Good Journey in the post parade. Jockey Pat Day said, "We had a good trip. He's a little better when he settles off horses. There was no pace in the race and he found himself close to the lead. When I asked him, he punched, but weakened in the late stages. It was a gallant effort."

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