Dettori upbeat for Breeders Cup tests

FRANKIE Dettori is aiming to extend his excellent run of form in 2019 as he heads to Santa Anita for the two-day Breeders’ Cup meeting.

Dettori is no stranger to success at the fixture, with 14 wins already under his belt, and he arrives on the crest of a wave having notched a remarkable 19 Group One wins this year.

The Italian opens his Breeders’ Cup weekend aboard the Simon Crisford-trained A’Ali in the Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday and admits the colt could be up against it from a high draw.

He said: “I’ve been to Santa Anita many times, it’s a tight track where in an ideal world I’d choose the rail every time.

“But on A’Ali we are in the 10 gate, and I’ll have to pray that we don’t lose too much ground, as there is a possibility of having to go five wide and you can’t win doing that.

“I can’t control the draw, it’s in the lap of the gods and I’ll ride it as it comes. On ability he’s definitely good enough.”

Dettori has five rides at the California track, teaming up with Fanny Logan for John Gosden in Saturday’s Filly & Mare Turf.

She has won her last four starts, graduating from Listed wins to claiming a Group Three last time out, and Dettori is well aware of the task she faces as he reflected on his stellar campaign.

He added: “Fanny Logan has done nothing but improve since we put a hood on her. She’s an outsider, but deserves to take her chance. Who knows what will happen, as she’s on the up and up and the stable has been in top form all year.”