Pounced wins thriller in Breeders'

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Aidan O'Brien's Viscount Nelson was unplaced

John Gosden's Pounced got the better of Bridgetown in a thrilling finish to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

Frankie Dettori's heavily-backed mount - runner-up previously in the Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day -travelled strongly throughout and was in a menacing third as the field turned for home.

Bridgetown held the lead heading inside the final two furlongs but Pounced wore him down late on to take the Grade One prize by three-quarters of a length. Interactif was a head further back in third.

It was a second successive victory in the race for Gosden and Dettori having teamed up with Donativum 12 months ago.

Gosden said: 'I wasn't surprised he was sent off favourite because he looked good training here and when people were asking me about him I told them he was as good as the horse who ran in the race last year and won it (Donativum), so that was enough to make the betting short.

'He did it great, there wasn't much pace on and a lot of them were pulling.

'I thought it would be awfully hard to come from behind and that something would kick off the bend and wouldn't be caught. It's not easy to come from where we did but we had a good draw, got the split and got the job done.

'He made the running in France as nobody wanted to go on. I didn't think there'd be a lack of pace here but I was shocked at the fractions and knew we had to be handy.

'The winner of the French race (Siyouni) had them well covered so he must be hot favourite for the French Guineas, and as for our horse we'll have a think about the Guineas at Newmarket and coming back over here for the Blue Grass is another possibility.

'I'm happy keeping him at a mile as he is by Rahy. Some of his family got a little bit further but he is probably a miler, although he may get a fraction more.

'Frankie and I go back a long way in California and this race has been the plan ever since he won his maiden.'

Dettori said before performing his trademark flying dismount: 'I was waiting for the gap and when Kent (Desormeaux) came off the fence, I had a good partner with me and he showed great courage.

'The great thing was I had a good draw on the rail and all week it has been the place to be.'

Jeremy Noseda said of Awesome Act, who finished fourth, said:

'He ran well, he's just a horse that hasn't learned to settle yet, he wants to pull.

'But with a bit more time and racing experience under his belt I think when he gets it together he can win a big one for me.'

Johnny Murtagh said of the unplaced Viscount Nelson, who lost his chance at the start: 'He missed the kick and was left much too far back. They didn't go very quick early on and when that happens you are up against it.'