The city of Troyoff favorite in Britain following a superb turf campaign with wins in Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International, went slow and never looked to go well on first try on dirt.

By some measure it was clear that his bid to become the first horse from Great Britain or Ireland to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on earth would not be successful and he could only finish eighth.

The final was fought between two old rivals in Sierra Leone and fierceness. Ferocity came to the fore when the pair met in the Jim Dandy Stakes and Travers Stakes at Saratoga, but Sierra Leone stayed strong to prevail in this $7 million contest.

Sierra Leone, who, like City of Troy, is owned by Coolmore Partners, was patiently led into a race at a strong gallop and made good progress on the back straight before mounting menacingly on the turn for home.

Fierence, who had run close to a gallop, led the field in the straight but had no answer to Sierra Leone’s sustained challenge. Japanese contender Forever Young, who was also close to the strong pace, continued in third, never seeming to get to grips with the winner who held on well after hitting the front over a furlong.

Of the winner, who had been placed in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, Brown said: “I’m so happy for the horse because he fell short a couple of times, but I thought he had a few excuses. He’s been so consistent and he’s such an honest horse, one of the best I’ve ever had.”

He added: “In hindsight, Saratoga may not have been his favorite track, but he’s a great horse and he went on this track, got the pace he needed and it was his day today.”

Hopes had been high that American Triple Crown winner Justify’s City of Troy could handle the dirt better than many of the Europeans who took up the challenge before him, but he was quickly on the back foot after breaking slowly . . Aidan O’Brien, who equaled the record for most winners by a trainer in the Breeders’ Cup on Friday, was left to rue that slow start and said: “I lost him at the start and obviously I didn’t prepare him to fault. I thought I did, but I didn’t, and it missed and left Ryan (Moore) with no chance. He was coming back very well, but the race was over.

Ultimately, it was a disastrous end to a superb career for last year’s junior champion and Europe’s top-rated horse this season, but reflecting on his career, O’Brien said: “He was such a sportsman from the boys to let us drive it. this race. What can I say for us he was the most incredible horse it was a privilege and a pleasure to have him and we look forward to him.

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