The announcement that Frankie Dettori will take over from Kieren Shoemark on Emily Upjohn in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar undoubtedly came as a blow to John Gosden’s stable jockey, but it also sealed the lineup for what promises to be a star-studded event in California this weekend.

The only surprise in Gosden’s decision might be that anyone was surprised. This isn’t the first time the trainer has sought Dettori’s expertise at US racing’s premier meeting, most notably when the Italian replaced Jimmy Fortune aboard Raven’s Pass in the 2008 Classic, delivering the only victory for a British yard in the Breeders’ Cup’s flagship event.

For a final nod to how straightforward this decision must have been, consider Dettori’s statistics since his move to the US. Initially expected to be his “retirement” year in 2023, Dettori had 30 winners from 126 rides in Britain, worth £5.8m in prize money. So far in 2024, with the richest two days of the US season still ahead, he has ridden 72 winners from 410 starts, ranking 13th in the riders’ earnings table with $12m (£9.2m) already secured.

Del Mar’s turf course, with its tight run-in, offers no room for error, making it perfect for Dettori’s knack for timing his stretch run to perfection. Five of his last six Breeders’ Cup winners hit the front inside the final 50m, with two getting there in the final strides.

Dettori is currently tied for fourth place on the all-time Breeders’ Cup riders’ list with 15 wins, while Ryan Moore, with 14 wins, heads to San Diego with a strong set of rides for trainer Aidan O’Brien, whose 18 wins at the meeting are just two shy of D Wayne Lukas’s record of 20.

Lukas, who turned 89 last month, has a chance to reach 21 wins with Seize The Grey in the Dirt Mile. A strong performance from O’Brien’s team, including City Of Troy in Saturday’s Classic and Lake Victoria in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, could see him share the all-time record.

City Of Troy’s run in the Classic will be closely watched by many European fans, but this year’s Breeders’ Cup boasts arguably the strongest field ever, with around 50 European runners and significant challengers from Japan, including Forever Young and Satono Caranaval.

It’s been 40 years since the first Breeders’ Cup at Hollywood Park, which was demolished in 2015. The original card had seven races, only two on turf, but has since expanded to 14 races over two days, with seven on grass.

The Breeders’ Cup’s claim as the “World Championships” of racing may still irk some, but with a record 80 overseas entries expected this year, it’s edging closer to reality.

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