Only 35 minutes after the victory of Ouija Board, it was the turn of Jeremy Noseda and Frankie Dettori to celebrate
after Wilko beat the best of the American youngsters with a renewed challenge to
score by three-quarters of a length from Afleet Alex.
Wilko is trained like Ouija Board in Newmarket, and the decision to bring him
over here was taken more in hope than expectation.
Having been bought privately by Paul Reddam, this was always to be Wilko's
last race for Noseda before being transferred into the care of California-based
Craig Dollase.
But even the most optimistic of British punters would have been hard pressed
to predict the victory of this 20-1 shot, who was having his 11th run of the
season and had been comfortably put in his place on several occasions by the
best horses back home.
Dettori, winning his fourth Breeders' Cup race, seemed genuinely and
understandably stunned by events.
"Passing the quarter-pole I thought we might just be a good fourth but then
they didn't go anywhere in front and the dream came true," he said.
"Jeremy asked me to ride him on a dirt surface in Newmarket last week and he
handled it very well, but I don't think any of us really expected this.
"But you know what they say - if you haven't got the ticket, you can't
win!"
Noseda, who came into the race knowing that the horse was leaving his care,
said that he was delighted to end a difficult year on such a high note.
"I knew that my job was done and I'm just delighted for today," he said.
"I'm sure he has got a good career ahead of him because he's a tough horse.
"I first discussed this race with Mr Reddam a couple of months ago and I said
that he was a tough horse who knows the game, and being by Awesome Again he was
bred to go on the dirt.
"I never in my wildest dreams expected to win but he had the experience to
make it worth giving it a go."
Antonius Pius's waywardness and a
BREEDERS' CUP NEWS
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