Dettori backs Raven’s Pass

Star jockey, Frankie Dettori, will be looking to add to his tally of Breeders Cup race victories when the two day festival gets underway at Santa Anita in California today.

Dettori currently boasts the third best Breeders Cup record of any of the jockeys participating in the event, with 6 Breeders Cup wins to his name.

“The Breeders’ Cup is great,” Dettori told the Times. “Even more so for me this year, because I started here 21 years ago. It’s pretty special to come back and see some old mates.”

Dettori will be working with British trainer John Gosden at this year’s meeting, and will partner Raven’s Pass in the feature race - the Breeders Cup Classic.

The Italian-born jockey is confident that his colt has what it takes to challenge the likes of Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator and Curlin in one of the year’s biggest races.

“Raven’s Pass did just over one circuit,” Dettori said of his mount’s preparations. “I was very pleased. He had every reason to boil over this morning, but he was very good. It’s all systems go.”