Dubai's Ajtebi wins Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Dubai-born Ahmad Ajtebi added a Breeders’ Cup championship to his growing list of Group One successes in 2009 last night when he rode Godolphin’s Vale of York to capture the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in California.

Ajtebi becomes the first jockey from the Gulf to win a Breeders' Cup race and propelled Vale Of York, sent off a 30-1 chance, into the market for next year’s Kentucky Derby with a shock victory over the warm favourite Lookin At Lucky. It added to his successes on Gladiatorus in the Dubai Duty Free and Eastern Anthem in Sheema Classic on World Cup night back in March.

A beaming Ajtebi, draped himself in the UAE flag on the way to the winner’s enclosure and said: “No difficulties 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.”

Trainer Saeed Bin Surour said: “He's a tough horse and next year we'll bring him for the Kentucky Derby. I fancied the horse before the race.

“He was improving all the time. Every time he's come for a race he's handled everything really well.”

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: “Vale of York would be the top two-year-old we have by a long way.

“Of all the two-year-olds we have right now he would be the one we are looking at for Churchill Downs.”

Vale of York could be the horse to fulfil the ambition of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to win a Kentucky Derby. Godolphin have a strong contingent of two-year-olds this term with Al Zir, Passion for Gold and Sahara Kingdom all possibles for the Churchill Downs showpiece. All are expected to race in the Dubai International Carnival beginning on January 28 with a shot at the UAE Derby on World Cup night in mind.

Earlier, Frankie Dettori treated the huge crowd to his famous flying dismount after capturing the Juvenile Turf on Pounced.

Zenyatta makes history

The star of the whole two-day Breeders’ Cup show was Zenyatta, who made history by becoming the first filly or mare to take the meeting’s showpiece, the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, ahead of Gio Ponti and Twice Over. Ballydoyle’s big hope, Rip Van Winkle, disappointed and finished 10th of the 12-runner field.

Zenyatta took her career record to a perfect 14 wins from 14 starts and showed why she can now be regarded as one of the all-time greats after being left with a huge amount to do down the home straight.

But the huge mare – she stands 17.2 hands tall – showed an astonishing turn of foot to reel in the leaders.

Jockey Mike Smith said: “She will go down as one of the best ever, believe me.

“She got really upset before the race, and I was concerned. She was last early and I didn't want to be that far back, but she did it.

“I still never got to the bottom of her. That's the amazing thing. She still had run left. She is incredible. She is sent from heaven. She is God's horse.”