Street Cry's sensational daughter Zenyatta recorded a brilliant win in a dramatic renewal of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic – becoming the first female ever to take the coveted event and notching her fourteenth straight win in the process.
Settled in her customary position at the rear of the field under Mike Smith, Zenyatta was some ten lengths off the lead in the back stretch and looked to have some work to do entering the final turn. Having to come around horses, the striking dark bay mare came with a scintillating run down the stretch, flying home to win by a length from Gio Ponti, with Twice Over taking third.
Now five, Zenyatta recorded her first victory in November 2007 at Hollywood Park and has not looked back since. She has now notched 14 straight wins, bettering the record of another great distaffer, Personal Ensign. Having capped a perfect season in 2008 with victory in the $2m G1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at the same course, this season she has now added four further wins at the highest level.
Speaking after the race, her trainer John Shirreffs said, "Tears are coming to my eyes. I can't believe it, what a great, great filly. She's special. She came out on the wrong lead and took some time to get going but she's all heart."
Mike Smith added, "There was a little bit of chaos at the start and she got upset and I was a little concerned. She was slow early and I didn't necessarily want to be that far back. She came round and I still didn't hit all the gears. She's the horse of the decade. She'll go down as one of the all-time greats."
Zenyatta, who was bred by Eric Kronfeld’s Maverick Productions Ltd and runs in the green and pink silks of Jerry and Ann Moss, is out of the winning Kris S mare Vertigineux - dam of another multiple G1 winner in Balance. She has a 2009 filly by fellow Darley stallion and 2006 World Champion Bernardini.
She is one of ten Grade or Group one winners for Street Cry, inclduing fellow Darley stallions Street Sense and Street Boss, plus this week’s Melbourne Cup winner Shocking.
