Vale Of York sprang a major shock for Godolphin by winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Saturday night.

The Invincible Spirit colt was a 25-1 outsider for the race following placed efforts in the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot and the Gran Criterium at San Siro, but jockey Ahmed Ajtebi always appeared confident.

Settled just behind the early leaders, Vale Of York picked up strongly in the final furlong to gain a narrow verdict from the 3-1 favourite Lookin At Lucky. Noble's Promise at 8-1 filled third spot.

The latter has to be considered a slightly unlucky loser having broke widest of all from stall 13.

Bin Suroor said: "I was happy with him and the horse has improved a lot with each run.

"We said to Ahmed to keep him close up during the race and it was an excellent ride."

It was a fairytale result for Ajtebi, a Dubai national, who was taken under his wing by Sheikh Mohammed after he spotted him riding camels.

Ajtebi himself said: "No difficulties today. I had a very good trip. The last time I rode this horse (in the Gran Criterium) about three weeks ago in Italy he was very unlucky. We were going to win, and he saw the crowd and he stopped himself. By the time I got him going, we got beat. He was unlucky to lose the time before that also. Today it all went well. When I shifted him out, he just went and he was strong enough at the finish to get it done."

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford added: "That was fantastic and he is a thoroughly honest colt.

"He has been running in all of the top European races and he truly deserves his win here today.

"Running on the synthetic surface was a bit of a chance but he handled it well. Whether he can handle dirt as well we don't know but we will give it a try in the Kentucky Derby next year."

Bob Baffert said of the runner-up: "The post killed us. We were done no favours by the draw.

"It's a little bit annoying when you know you have the best horse in the race and don't win."

Johnny Murtagh was on board the unplaced Alfred Nobel and said: "It was a rough race and especially at the first bend. My lad emptied out a little bit and he might not have stayed."

The Brian Meehan-trained Radiohead failed to land a blow and his rider Martin Dwyer said: "The outside post killed me and I could never get to where I wanted to be, but he did run on up the straight."

Ryan Moore, rider of Dewhurst winner Beethoven, said: "He ran well, but he got killed early on and that was that."