Teen Jara joins Dettori on centre stage

Frankie Dettori buried bad memories of Churchill Downs with a double strike on English raiders in the Breeders' Cup on Saturday but was joined on centre stage by 18-year-old Fernando Jara, a jockey nearly half his age.

Dettori, 35, scored first in the Filly and Mare Turf on the popular 6-5 favourite Ouija Board and followed up in the Turf on 11-1 chance Red Rocks.

Then Jara leapt into the spotlight with a one-length victory in the $5 million Classic on 13-2 chance Invasor, who battled up the stretch to beat the even money favourite Bernardini.

The success completed a stellar year for Panama-born Jara, who also won the Belmont Stakes on Jazil.

Invasor's trainer Kieran McLaughlin said: "He's had a great year and this was an exceptional ride today."

Invasor was bought out of South America for Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum of Dubai and had enjoyed a successful career but it was Bernardini, owned by the sheikh's brother Sheikh Mohammed, who was expected to prevail in the Classic.

Turning into the stretch it looked as if Bernardini, partnered by Javier Castellano, would win but Jara, riding with maturity beyond his years, produced Invasor at precisely the right time.

Dettori's victories helped erase memories of an unhappy ride the last time the Breeders' Cup was held at Churchill Downs in 1998 when his mount in the Classic, Swain, veered across the track in the closing stages and lost out badly to Awesome Again.

This time round it was all smiles after Ouija Board set the ball rolling.

Winner of the same race two years ago, Ouija Board took up the running half way up the straight and came home two and a quarter lengths clear of Film Maker, the mount of Edgar Prado.

Ouija Board has raced consistently at the highest level over the last three seasons, earning a place in punters' hearts in Britain where she is trained by Ed Dunlop for owner Lord Derby.

The five-year-old is likely to have two more races, in Hong Kong and Japan, before she retires to stud.

"We showed the world why she is the queen of horse racing. It was a spectacular performance," Dettori said.

Partnering the improving Red Rocks for trainer Brian Meehan in the Turf, Dettori held off the determined challenge of Better Talk Now, the mount of Ramon Dominguez, by half a length.

A strong European challenge in the Mile race was seen off in fine style by US trained Miesque's Approval, a 24-1 chance partnered by Eddie Castro.

There was sadness in the Distaff when the filly Pine Island fell, broke a leg and had to be put down.

Jockey Castellano needed medical attention but recovered in time to partner Bernardini in the Classic.