{"id":295487,"date":"2023-11-04T21:26:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T21:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=295487"},"modified":"2023-11-04T21:26:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T21:26:04","slug":"dettori-guides-inspiral-to-last-gasp-victory-in-breeders-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/horse-racing\/dettori-guides-inspiral-to-last-gasp-victory-in-breeders-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Dettori guides Inspiral to last-gasp victory in Breeders' Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
Frankie Dettori has had enough Hollywood storylines this summer so it was only appropriate that, this time, the spotlight should shine on his leading lady.<\/p>\n
The Italian has ridden many fantastic fillies, the best of which was Enable, but after what Inspiral did here last night, she must be making a play for his affections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a startling change of gear and an inexorable run, the $2million Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf is now on her magnificent CV.<\/p>\n
Dettori \u2013 as he has been for most of this season \u2013 was absolutely brilliant in the saddle. He is an emotional character but, in circumstances such as this, he has nerves of steel and never panicked when time looked like it might be running out.<\/p>\n
It helped, though, that he had a partner with rare brilliance, too. Inspiral, owned and bred by Cheveley Park Stud, has inherited plenty of genes from her father \u2013 the fantastic Frankel \u2013 and how she showed them in the final furlongs around Santa Anita\u2019s helter-skelter track.<\/p>\n
Ryan Moore \u2013 another jockey at the peak of his powers \u2013 looked like he was on the cusp of landing the prize on Warm Hear, trained by Aidan O\u2019Brien, but five yards before the post elation turned to devastation; Dettori flashed past, a blur of red, white and blue, waving his whip in delight.<\/p>\n
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Frankie Dettori guided Inspiral to victory in a last gasp win at the Breeders’ Cup\u00a0<\/p>\n
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The legendary jockey continued his superb form after reversing his decision to retire<\/p>\n
\u2018This is my home!\u2019 Dettori chirruped, as he made his way into the winners enclosure \u2013 and what a way this was to announce himself at the place where he will now be based for the foreseeable future. The locals love him and they roared when he jumped out of the saddle in jubilation.<\/p>\n
But such is the esteem in which he holds Inspiral \u2013 who was the best female in the world aged two and three \u2013 Dettori will be eager to maintain this relationship; she will stay in training as a five-year-old, with John Gosden nominating York\u2019s Juddmonte International as a prime target.<\/p>\n
\u2018I knew I would be asked that question,\u2019 Dettori said, when asked if this meant he would be riding at British courses next summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m here to stay\u2026 Look, she is a brilliant filly. She needs a quarter-of-a-mile to hit top gear and I thought it would be better not to try to go for any gaps up the inside.<\/p>\n
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Dettori said Inspiral was a ‘brilliant filly’ as he insisted he was ‘here to stay’ following his move to the US\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018She is never going to win any beauty contests but, my God, she can run. I love the Breeders Cup, it has been my making. I don\u2019t think I have had a winner at this meeting since Enable (in 2018), so this makes it double sweet. When Inspiral hit the line, she was flying.\u2019<\/p>\n
Wasn\u2019t she just? This was her sixth win at the highest Group One level but connections were having palpitations as the race unfolded; when the field swung for home and Inspiral had seven lengths to make up, anxiety levels went through the roof.<\/p>\n
\u2018Yes, I was very concerned,\u2019 said Richard Thompson, Cheveley Park\u2019s Stud Director, said. \u2018This is the pinnacle, to win here is everything we strive for and dream about. I didn\u2019t think she could win coming around that corner. But, then, Frankie gave her a beautiful ride.\u2019<\/p>\n
As he always does in these circumstances.<\/p>\n