Halfway To Heaven and Visit were unplaced as Forever Together finished best of all to take the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Friday night.

Both had every chance down the stretch but faded in the dying strides as the home contingent held sway in a thrilling finish.

Frankie Dettori was smartly away on the Godolphin hope Folk Opera and they made the running with the Aidan O'Brien-trained 5-2 favourite Halfway To Heaven and Johnny Murtagh right in behind.

Turning in Murtagh tried to kick on, but it was Ryan Moore on Sir Michael Stoute's Visit who conjured a thrilling run up the rail to take it up momentarily.

For a second it looked like Moore's move might be decisive, but his filly was swallowed up in the closing stages.

Forever Together, trained by Jonathan Sheppard and superbly ridden by Julien Leparoux, came widest and latest at 5-1 to pip 33-1 chance Sealy Hill with 4-1 Wait A While third. Visit was a very creditable fourth.

Afterwards the British-born winning trainer Sheppard said: "I thought Julien was a lot closer than was probably customary, but she did it well.

"She's lost a couple of races, but usually with excuses."

Winning owner George Strawbridge, who also owns the likes of Lucarno and Rainbow View, said: "It's very rewarding to have such a marvellous animal - it was one of the most thrilling races I've ever seen."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for Prince Khalid Abdullah, said of Visit: "It was a fantastic run, but she just didn't quite get home.

"A mile and an eighth would've been the perfect distance.

"She got through on the rail but just fell short on stamina.

"She will now stay here with Bobby Frankel."

O'Brien blamed fatigue for Halfway To Heaven's disappointing performance. He said: "Johnny thought the mile and a quarter might have been a fraction too far, but I think the main reason was that she has had a long season."

Dettori meanwhile said of Folk Opera: "I found things going to my favour and I was happy early on. But the race was a furlong too far for her - and probably a race too many as well. She will now go to stud."