Raven's claims Breeders' glory

Raven's Pass produced a stunning finish to upset defending champion Curlin and take the $5million Breeders' Cup Classic for Frankie Dettori and John Gosden in California.

The three-year-old became Gosden and Dettori's second winner of the day following Donativum in the Juvenile Turf, after surging past Horse of the Year Curlin and Aidan O'Brien's Henrythenavigator inside the final furlong to become Europe's fifth win on the card and the first horse trained in Britain to land the Classic.

Only Andre Fabre's Arcangues in 1993 had previously won the 10-furlong showpiece for Europe.

'It doesn't get any better than this,' said Gosden, who at one time trained in America.

'With my wife and family based with me here (at Santa Anita) for 11 years...it doesn't get any better and if you think it does get any better then you're a greedy so and so. To me this is a dream come true and it's a day I will cherish for the rest of my life.

'He has trained beautifully and been more relaxed. I felt the trip wouldn't be a problem.'

More than $1million had been staked on course for Curlin but trainer Steve Asmussen's worst fears about how his four-year-old would react on his debut on the synthetic Pro-Ride track were realised when he turned the corner for home under Robby Albarado and had no answer as Princess Haya of Jordan's Raven's Pass swept past him.

Japanese-owned Casino Drive, making just his fourth start, had made the running, closely tracked by O'Brien's five-time Group One winner Duke of Marmalade with Curlin and Irish and English 2000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator happy to sit in mid-division eight lengths off the lead down the back straight.

Yet as the field made the final turn, the main players made their move, Duke of Marmalade breaking first with Curlin on his outside and Colonel John trying to stay in touch.

Curlin hit the front as the crowd cheered in anticipation of another win from the favourite but this time the field was not letting him run away with it as he had 12 months ago in the slop at Monmouth Park.

First Henrythenavigator and then Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Raven's Pass powered past the American with Gosden's hero storming to a one-and-three-quarter-length victory from Henrythenavigator with Tiago third by a neck from Curlin.

Dettori, who had suffered heartache in this race with Swain (1998) and Sakhee (2001), said: 'John said "Don't worry, just find yourself a position' and once I found myself behind Curlin I thought 'that's half the job done'

'There was a worrying moment for a split second when I first asked him whether he'd pick up but he did pick up and the last long furlong was a pretty long run but I could feel he was galloping pretty well.

'It was an emotional moment and when I crossed the line I didn't really know if it was true or just a dream or a fake reality. I realised straight away that it was true and I'm delighted.'

William Hill reacted to the victory by installing Raven's Pass as 5-2 favourite for the 2009 Dubai World Cup as connections celebrated a remarkable win.

'It's like the last putt on the last hole of the last game of the Ryder Cup,' Dettori said of finally landing the big race.

'I've been close twice. I reminded my wife it's 10 years since I came second with Swain and that didn't go down very well. And I was close with Sakhee and 10 years down the line I got this chance and I didn't want to let it slip.

'I had a good horse, I had a good partner and I'm older, I'm not saying wiser, but more experienced for the challenge and getting the job done.'

It was Dettori's first ride on Raven's Pass with regular jockey Jimmy Fortune only returning from a two-week ban on Saturday and stepping aside.

Dettori added: 'I rode him at Lingfield a week ago and he worked fantastically, like a champion of the world. I've been on him a couple of mornings since he's been here and he handled this track so good I was actually quite frightened that it was too good to be true.'