Is he Secretariat? Is he Pegasus? Flightline faces toughest test in hot Classic

The hottest favourite at this Breeders' Cup came good on Friday morning when the New York Times published a story under the headline: 'Is Flightline the greatest thoroughbred since Secretariat?'

Big Red, as Secretariat was known during his extraordinary, record-breaking career half a century ago, has become a regular comparator in recent weeks as reporters have sought to explain how good Flightline might be ahead of his sternest test in tonight's Classic.

It's slightly surprising to see the name of Secretariat, once sacred in the US, being tossed around so freely. Perhaps the manner of Flightline's latest success made it inevitable, as he pulled almost 20 lengths clear of quality rivals in the Pacific Classic in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Secretariat's romp in the Belmont.