February 1 - On Saturday at Santa Anita Park in California, most horseracing fans who bet on the day's feature race, the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic (Gr 1), were surprised when 7-year-old Bold Chieftain, a horse that was meant to be retired, won the prestigious 1 1/8 mile race by a neck.

This winter Bold Chieftain's connections tried to send him to stud, but after negotiations with the respective stud farm broke down, they decided to keep him in training. And a good thing they did too, because as it turns out the Sunshine Millions is the horse's most coveted and lucrative victory to date.

Ridden to perfection by jockey Russell Baze, Bold Chieftain started off well over Santa Anita's synthetic course and was never far off the leaders. But it was in the final few furlongs that the horse and his jockey stepped up, as they negotiated their way through a tight gap to just squeeze across the line first.

Bold Chieftain led fellow 6/1 shot, Palladio, home in second place, who in turn led 50/1 long shot Unusual Smoke home in third place. The well-backed favourite, The Usual Q. T., who was seeking his seventh straight victory, led the race until going into the stretch he faded, eventually crossing the line last.

Said the winning jockey from the winner's circle, 'He responded really well. We were in pretty tight straits. A tiny hole opened up at the end and he was brave to go through it.' Baze also praised Bold Chieftain for shrugging off contact with Unusual Smoke in the final stages, to concentrate instead on running.

Also thrilled was Bold Chieftain's trainer, Bill Morey, who admitted that he struggled to spot his charge throughout most of the Sunshine Millions Classic. However, when he picked him up in the final furlongs, he was amazed when he saw the 7-year-old squeeze his way through the narrow gap the way he did.

'It was a thrill to see the horse shoot through there,' said Morey. 'Earlier in his career, he wouldn't do that. He was going to have to jump up and run a monster race to keep going and he came through.' Bold Chieftain, who was bred in California, paid $12.20 and covered the course in a time of 1:48.33.