The Scotsman

Hat-trick is a hoot for Dettori

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FRANKIE Dettori struck gold with Hootenanny in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

Trained by American Wesley Ward for Coolmore, the Royal Ascot winner was keen in the early stages before being settled in third as stablemate Luck Of The Kitten set the pace up front, chased by Lawn Ranger.

Luck Of The Kitten still had a length-and-a-half advantage turning in, but when Dettori asked the Quality Road colt to cut down the leader his mount, who was trying a mile for the first time, responded in game fashion, sticking his head down right to the line.

Successful in the Windsor Castle at the Royal meeting in June, Hootenanny was running for the first time since finishing runner-up to The Wow Signal in the Prix Morny at Deauville in August.

Dettori, winning the race for the third time, said: “It’s brilliant, a great feeling. The speed was strong, I got him to switch off but he didn’t corner very well at all. I lost a couple of lengths round the corners but when I got into the stretch, he flew.

“He lost momentum round the turn, but I made that up in the straight.”

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