Cody's Wish keeps hold of Dirt Mile after stewards' inquiry to secure emotional win

Cody's Wish made it back-to-back wins in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday, but there was so much more to his victory.

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, the five-year-old went off favourite and wore down National Treasure in a captivating finish that resulted in a stewards' inquiry.

The winner, who is owned and was bred by Godolphin, is named after the wheelchair-bound Cody Dorman, who has a rare genetic disorder and cannot speak.

He met Cody's Wish when the son of Curlin was a foal and Dorman's father Kelly, choked with emotion, said: "I can't talk and cry at the same time – how can you write something like that? How can you do that?

"It's from up there; it's where it all comes from. There's no quit in that horse, you can see it and there's no quit in that young man right there.

"I've probably watched his first race 30 times. I came home from work one day and my wife said she wanted me to watch something. I asked why she wanted me to watch it again and she said the horse ran that race like Cody had lived his whole life. He gets himself in a mess, gets himself out and climbs a mountain. He's going to get to the top.

"I don't think I've seen anything like this in my life."

Mott, on the mark on Friday with Just F Y I in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, was not fazed by the inquiry, saying before the outcome was known: "I think it was a trade-off. The other horse [National Treasure] drifted off and came into us to begin with and they may have had a light brush, but I don't think you can change the outcome of the race. The other horse started it."

Cody's Wish, who is set to retire to stud, survived the inquiry for a triumph to treasure.

Dorman's sister Kylie said: "I just love Cody and Cody's Wish." 

Godolphin's Danny Mulvihill added: "You talk about fairytales and them having the endings, but – for this fella – we got the ending we wanted today and the best part is we're going to have little Codys running about the place, so Cody's name will live on in racing." 

Goodnight Olive (Irad Ortiz jr) wins the Filly & Mare SprintCredit: Edward Whitaker

Goodnight Olive says goodbye in style

Chad Brown's fine touch with female performers was evident again in the Filly & Mare Sprint when Goodnight Olive struck - 12 months after she won the race.

In outclassing her rivals, she becomes the second horse to capture the contest twice after Groupie Doll (2012 and 2013) and was a third winner in it for Brown, who saddled Wavell Avenue to victory eight years ago.

He was winning his 18th race at the Breeders' Cup and the majority of those have been with fillies and mares.

Irad Ortiz rode Goodnight Olive, as he had done last year.

"She deserves all the credit and is a true champion," he said. "She relaxed so well and did it great. She was there for me every time I asked and Chad did a great job."

Yuugiri was second, while Three Witches was third, but there were no scares for Brown.

"She's such a remarkable horse and it's a storybook ending for her to go out on top as she's going to be retired," he said. "I want to thank the owners [First Row Partners & Team Hanley] for their patience, Irad for his ride and the great Bobby Frankel, whom I learned so much from."

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