CURLIN GETS BEATEN.

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Belmont Park: Man o'War Stakes (Grade 1, 1m3f, turf)


CURLIN, making his turf debut, could finish only second to the Brian Meehan-trained Red Rocks in the Grade 1 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday, and a bid for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by the American champion must now be unlikely.

Asked to come from a long way behind off a frantic pace set by Mission Accomplished and Sudan, the 2-5 favourite Curlin appeared to be perfectly placed two furlongs out.

But when 2006 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Red Rocks hit the front, Robby Albarado could not catch him and had to settle for second, beaten by two lengths.

Connections had hoped that a victory at Belmont would set up an Arc bid for Curlin, but he appeared to be beaten fair and square by a confirmed US turf specialist.

Breeders' Cup winners filled the first three places, with veteran 2004 Turf winner Better Talk Now running on for third.

Mission Approved and Sudan set a suicidal pace, charging away from the field into the clubhouse turn to open up a lead of around 10 lengths.

With half a mile to run, Red Rocks and Curlin began their moves and, coming off the home turn, the pair were within a couple of lengths of the fading Sudan.

Curlin, brought to the outside, moved into second as Red Rocks and Javier Castellano passed Sudan in the home straight, but just could not match their finishing burst.

Curlin's defeat ends a five-race winning run for the Dubai World Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic winner.