Audarya got up in the dying strides to down big home hope Rushing Fall in a pulsating finish to the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland.
All eyes were on Chad Brown's five-year-old Rushing Fall beforehand as she bid to cap a fine campaign but she couldn't repel a sustained late challenge from Audarya (12/1), who was providing Newmarket trainer James Fanshawe with his first Breeders' Cup winner.
Audarya had been ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal in her last two starts but after testing positive for COVID-19, he was replaced by fellow Frenchman Pierre-Charles Boudot who gave his new partner the perfect ride, stalking the early pace before timing his run to perfection and getting up to score by a neck.
It rounded off a remarkable rise through the ranks for Audarya who began the season in Listed company but ended it by claiming her second success at Group One level following victory in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.
Rushing Fall went down on her sword in second, with Harvey's Lil Goil finishing third, but Peaceful and Terebellum were ultimately well held while Cayenne Pepper faded late on having been rushed up by Shane Foley from her wide draw.
There was drama at the start when Starship Jubilee unseated her rider Florent Geroux after stumbling coming out of the stalls but both jockey and horse were fine after the incident.
