RACING: History was made as High Chaparral landed his second consecutive victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf when he shared a dead-heat with Johar at Santa Anita on Saturday night.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old, one of three European winners at the meeting, grabbed the lead from Falbrav just strides from the finishing post but was forced to share the spoils with his fast-finishing opponent, who flew late under Alex Solis.

In a race that will be remembered for years to come, punters were left agonising for some 15 minutes until a dead-heat - the first in the 20 years of the Breeders' Cup - was confirmed.

Falbrav, who had taken up the running two furlongs from the finish but faltered close home as his stamina gave way, finished a further head back in third. The trio were well clear of their rivals.

With High Chaparral (11 to 2) now set to be retired to stud at Coolmore, a dead-heat was a happy result for both parties as it contributed to a four-timer on the day for Johar's trainer, locally-based Richard Mandella.

That was a feat never achieved before and was regarded as almost inconceivable by American racing afficionados.

"I was surprised it took so long to announce the result as I really thought I had won when they passed the post," said High Chaparral's rider Michael Kinane.

"We knew it was going to be a hard race today, with some tough opponents. But he is a horse who always has something to offer, even if you have to drag it out of him sometimes.

"There's a lot been said about him wanting softer ground but his best performances have been on this kind of ground. It's just that it takes a bit more out of him after the races."

O'Brien, landing his third Breeders' Cup race, paid tribute to his charge. "He's always had a little niggly problem in his left shoulder and that could be the reason why the three times he has been beaten he has been going right-handed," he said.

"We are always delighted to be involved here and obviously we are thrilled that he won. Mick got into a bit of trouble down the back straight and he did well to get the horse out in time. High Chaparral can be a bit of an idle horse but when the horse came on his outside, he got competitive.

"We were much happier coming to the sun than the cold. It is an extreme, it is very warm. But I know that I am always happier coming to the sun, and the horses must be the same!"

Richard Mulhall, representing Johar's owners, the Thoroughbred Corporation, was delighted with the result. "The more I looked at the tape, the more I thought we had got beaten," he said.

Islington had broken the British Breeders' Cup jinx in California as she ground out a battling victory in the Filly and Mare Turf under Kieren Fallon.

Islington edged past the O'Brien-trained L'Ancresse with a furlong to run and dug deep to hold the persistent rally of her rival by a neck.

Two and a half lengths back in third, O'Brien was also responsible for the third-placed Yesterday, completing a clean sweep of the placings for the raiding party.