Magic moment for Miller as Stormy Liberal makes it back-to-back wins

Stormy Liberal made it back-to-back victories in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint when he wore down World Of Trouble at Churchill Downs on Saturday, providing trainer Peter Miller with the most emotional of triumphs.

Ridden by Drayden van Dyke, Stormy Liberal showed he is as tough as he is talented when denying World Of Trouble, who was positively ridden and lost little in defeat.

Third home, albeit someway adrift, was Disco Partner.

There has yet to be a European winner of the race and Lost Treasure, representing Aidan O'Brien, and the Karl Burke-trained Havana Grey never looked like changing that, making no impact.

It was a third Breeders' Cup victory for Miller, who also struck last year in the Sprint with Roy H. A dream day got even better when Roy H followed up later on the card under Paco Lopez.

However, 2017 ended in heartbreak for the one-time wannabe jockey when he lost five horses after forest fires hit a training facility in California.

He had 75 horses stabled at San Luis Rey Downs, which is not far from his main base at Del Mar.

Nine barns burned down and 46 horses were killed, leading Miller to later reflect: "It was a nightmare and a real disaster. I wouldn't have wished that week on my worst enemy and it's something you don't want to go through."

In a more positive vein, he added immediately after the Turf Sprint: "The emotions and the highs and lows I have gone through in this game in the past year are indescribable. I am just thankful to be back here. It is amazing to win this race two years in a row with this horse. It is a dream come true."

Of his willing inmate, Miller, top trainer at Del Mar for the fifth time this year, added: "He knows where the wire is and does just enough, he doesn't over-exert himself in any race or any workout, he's a very smart horse. So I would say his heart, but also his soundness and durability have been keys.

"You can't do this with most horses, you can't. They are just not able to. So he's just a special horse in so many ways."

Turf Sprint result

For Van Dyke, who has enjoyed something of a breakthrough year and whose father Seth was also a jockey, the success was his first at the autumn jamboree.

"He broke really sharp," he said.

"I knew there were a few who were going to be a little bit faster than me. I bided my time and let them get by me, then just tipped him outside. From there on, it was up to him to do the running. Stormy Liberal likes to hang on horses and not pass them, but he got him. It was awesome."

Reflecting on Havana Grey's effort in 12th, jockey PJ McDonald said: "The first half of the race went great. I had a really good position, but they forced me to the inside. They went really quick. Turning for home, I knew we were beaten."

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Saturday's Breeders' Cup results

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