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Dettori and Gosden win opener at Breeders Cup

Sat 7th Nov 2009, 19:41

Frankie Dettori gave Europe the perfect start to day two of Breeders' Cup 2009 by winning the opening Juvenile Turf on John Gosden's Pounced at Santa Anita.

The Italian sent his mount - the 3-1 favourite - through a gap on the inside to take it up a furlong from home.

And from there on in the son of Rahy was never going to be passed as Dettori and Gosden took the race for the second consecutive year after Donativum scored in 2008.

Bridgetown took second spot at 15-2 after making a gallant surge for home from the top of the stretch, while Interactif (4-1) was third.

Jeremy Noseda's Awesome Act finished really well down the centre of the track from way back to take fourth.

Aidan O'Brien's Viscount Nelson fell out of the stalls under Johnny Murtagh and was never really in a position to threaten the leaders.

"I was waiting for the gap and when Kent (Desormeaux, on third-placed Interactif) came off the fence, I had a good partner with me and he showed great courage," said Dettori.

"The great thing was I had a good draw on the rail and all week it has been the place to be."

Gosden added: "I wasn't surprised he was sent off favourite because he looked good training here.

"And when people were asking me about him I told them he was as good as the horse who ran in the race last year and won it (Donativum), so that was enough to make the betting short."

Murtagh said of Viscount Nelson: "He missed the kick and was left much too far back. They didn't go very quick early on and when that happens you are up against it."