After a year marked by internal problems on one side of the running rail and a shortage of star performers on the other, Godolphin brought its season to a close with a flourish in California on Saturday night, as the royal blue silks completed a double with Wuheida in the Filly & Mare Turf and Talismanic, from André Fabre’s yard in Chantilly, in the $4m Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Talismanic stayed on strongly in the straight to overhaul the local favourite Beach Patrol and give Mickael Barzalona his first Breeders’ Cup victory. Fabre, who famously saddled Arcangues to win the Classic at 133-1 in 1993, registered his fifth success at the meeting.

Beach Patrol led the field with a furlong to run but Barzalona brought Talismanic with a strong run to lead halfway down the stretch. Highland Reel, last year’s winner of the race and the strong favourite for a repeat, could only stay on into third.

“André Fabre is a living legend,” said Joe Osborne, who replaced John Ferguson as Godolphin’s chief executive following internal strife at the operation earlier this year. “He’s always regarded this horse very highly and we weren’t at all concerned about the fast ground. When André Fabre rates their chances, you have to respect that.”

Gun Runner wins Breeders' Cup Classic 2017: day two – as it happened Read more

Aidan O’Brien, Highland Reel’s trainer, saw both his runners on the dirt track beaten, as Churchill faded to finish unplaced behind the front-running Gun Runner in the Classic, while U S Navy Flag faded rapidly behind Good Magic in the Juvenile. Gun Runner got the better of a prolonged duel with Collected in the Classic, while Arrogate, who beat Gun Runner into second in the Dubai World Cup in March, ran a disappointing race on his final start before going to stud.

Wuheida, trained in Newmarket by Charlie Appleby, took the Filly & Mare Turf under a flawless ride by William Buick.

Buick, whose own season was disrupted by injury after a fall at Arlington Park in August, settled Wuheida in a close third and simply had to choose the right moment to strike leaving the home turn to secure the win. Rhododendron and Ryan Moore, from the Aidan O’Brien stable, set off in vain pursuit down the stretch having been settled much further back in the field from a wide draw, but could get only to within three-quarters of a length of the winner.

The moment of victory was particularly sweet for the jockey, as this was his first winner at the Breeders’ Cup in 12 attempts after near misses that included a last-gasp defeat on The Fugue – by the Moore-ridden Magician – in 2013 which reduced the jockey to tears. He also lost a stirrup on the turn aboard Masar in Friday’s Juvenile Turf.

“She’s a push-button ride,” Buick said. “I could send her forward from the gate and get her into a nice rhythm, and the trip was never a concern. I was very happy throughout and I had plenty of horse and I could go where I wanted. It was a case of don’t get too excited and don’t go too soon.”

Appleby said: “I was delighted from the get-go. The fractions all looked right and William got everything spot on. I’d love to train her as a four-year-old. For me, she can only get better as she gets older and strengthens into her frame.”

The Elite Racing Club’s bold bid to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with Marsha ended in disappointment, as Sir Mark Prescott’s filly finished out of the frame behind the 31-1 outsider, Stormy Liberal. Lady Aurelia, who finished a nose behind Marsha in the Nunthorpe Stakes and set off as the odds-on favourite, fared even worse and was one of the last to cross the line.

“They went very hard from the gate, which was always on the cards, really,” Luke Morris said. “I got onto the tail of Lady Aurelia about half way around and that was my plan all along but she just struggled slightly on the track.

“The track was always the slight concern but she’s so tough and honest and she’s held her form right through the year. She’s been a great servant.”

Marsha picked up about $10,000 for finishing sixth – a buck for every member of the Elite Racing Club – and is now expected to head to the sales in December, to be sold as a broodmare.