Watch: Life Is Good leaves Knicks Go toiling in brilliant Pegasus World Cup win

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Life Is Good lowered the colours of last year's top-rated horse in the world Knicks Go with a dominant front-running win in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and jointly-owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club, the four-year-old was sent off 4-5 favourite in a highly anticipated clash with Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go, who was attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the Grade 1 Pegasus since its inception in 2017.

10:34 Gulfstream Park: Pegasus World Cup result

However, no duel materialised as Life Is Good dictated matters throughout and stormed to a three-and-a-quarter length victory under Irad Ortiz to pick up the $1,755,000 first prize, with Knicks Go a length ahead of Stilleto Boy in third.

Pletcher said: "There was a risk that if Knicks Go and Life Is Good got into speed duel something had to give, but today he was too fast and too good. It was really special quality and fun to watch.

"I can't think of a horse I have trained better than him. He's extra special. He has that unique ability to go fast and just keep going."

Ortiz, who had looked likely to miss the prestigious Pegasus card having suffered an injury this month, was similarly in awe of the new dirt superstar following his impressive victory.

"He's unreal, he's the best horse I've ever sat on in my whole life," he said. "Thank god for my health, a couple of doctors told me I couldn't make it today."

The Dubai World Cup in March could be next on the agenda for Life Is Good, and Pletcher added: "We're in no rush to make a decision, but we do feel this horse is talented enough to do just about anything."

Six-year-old Knicks Go, who is set to take up stallion duties in Kentucky, was unable to end his career on a high, with trainer Brad Cox offering few excuses for his defeat.

Knicks Go: Breeders' Cup Classic winner suffered defeat on his final career startCredit: ©Racingfotos.com

"Joel [Rosario, jockey] said there were a couple of horses there with him and he said, 'Okay, we'll take back' - that was plan B," said Cox. "I wanted to go with plan A and be on the lead, but we didn't execute plan A.

"He did a good job, but it wasn't good enough. The winner was very, very good."

Pletcher and Ortiz also scooped the other top-level contest on the card as Colonel Liam made it back-to-back wins in the Pegasus World Cup Turf. Space Traveller, a Group 2 winner when trained by Richard Fahey, was third under Jamie Spencer, beaten a length and a half.

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