Breeders’ Cup: Frankie Dettori times it perfectly on Inspiral in the Filly & Mare Turf for John and Thady Gosden

Frankie Dettori was at his brilliant best as he delivered Inspiral to a last-gasp victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly has been one of Dettori’s star performers over the past few seasons, so it was somewhat fitting that she shone once again at Santa Anita, the place Dettori is soon to call home.

Held up towards the rear of mid-division for her first attempt at 10 furlongs, Dettori angled Inspiral out for a run rounding the far turn and flew home to deny Aidan O’Brien’s Warm Heart in the dying strides.

John Gosden said: “She’s never the quickest out of the gates but I was hoping Chad’s filly [In Italian] would set stronger fractions and when I saw how they were going I thought it was impossible from where we were.

“But, Frankie managed to wriggle out and luckily she had the class to go and nail it on the line.

“You saw how she galloped out – we’ve probably been running her over the wrong trip all her life.”

On Dettori, Gosden added: “He stayed cool and saved every inch once we missed the break. He’s 52 and riding like a 32-year-old!”

There was Breeders’ Cup heartbreak for Live In The Dream as Nobals showed tremendous speed to claim the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Adam West’s Nunthorpe winner was one of the fancied runners for the five-furlong event and although showing plenty of his famous early pace from an ideal draw in stall five, his petrol tank ran empty in the closing stages as those from off the pace finished with a flourish.

One of those was the Larry Rivelli-trained four-year-old who had followed Live In The Dream on the inner and got the perfect split that allowed his rider Gerardo Corrales to surge up the rail for victory.

It was a first Breeders’ Cup success for Rivelli, as Nobals held on from the fast-finishing Big Invasion and Aidan O’Brien’s Aesop’s Fables. Live In The Dream gamely kept on once headed to finish an honourable fourth under Sean Kirrane.

The night started full of emotion as Cody’s Wish, named after Cody Dorman who was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, defended his Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile title.

Trained by William Mott, Cody’s Wish beat Bob Baffert’s National Treasure in a tight finish and survived a brief stewards’ enquiry.

Goodnight Olive rallied three horses wide on the turn and pulled clear for a two-and-three-quarter-length victory to defend her Filly & Mare Sprint title.

White Abarrio won the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by a length, putting trainer Rick Dutrow back on top months after his 10-year exile from the sport ended.

A celebratory Dutrow hugged anyone he could in the winner’s circle before throwing his arms around White Abarrio. He previously won the Classic in 2005 with Saint Liam.

Dutrow returned to training last spring after serving a 10-year suspension by New York racing officials for a history of violations.