Wimbledon Hawkeye is Nashville hit for Frankie Dettori

Frankie Dettori steered British raider Wimbledon Hawkeye to a thrilling victory in the DK Horse Nashville Derby on Saturday.

Although James Owen’s charge had not managed to get his head in front since landing last season’s Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, he has run creditably defeat on a number of occasions this term, filling the runner-up spot in the Craven, the Princess of Wales’s Stakes and Gordon Stakes.

Wimbledon Hawkeye, owned by Dettori’s former neighbours the Gredley Family, headed Stateside as a leading contender for Saturday’s $2million feature at Kentucky Downs and after rocketing to the front early in the home straight, the Kameko colt knuckled down to see off the persistent challenge of Burnham Square by a head.

Dettori told TwinSpires Racing: “We know he’s proven on grass and proven on the distance, so when we got to the top of the hill I thought ‘come and catch me if you can’.

“Brian (Hernandez Jr, riding Burnham Square) came to me with a wet sail and I thought he was going to pass me, but in fairness Wimbledon Hawkeye put his head down and battled for me. I wasn’t sure at the line, but we got there first.

“The only thing I was afraid of was he’s danced every dance this year – he’s run a Guineas trial, the Guineas (finished fifth), Derby trials and Royal Ascot. He ran at Goodwood on deep ground, it’s a long journey for a three-year-old and sometimes we ask horses too much, but the team have done a great job.

“He was bucking and kicking like a yearling and he showed that he was full of energy, well done to the team.”

Quoted on www.bloodhorse.com, Owen added: “The horse is improving. He’s not the biggest, but he’s getting stronger all the time, and he’s a very consistent horse.

“I’m privileged to train him. I haven’t been training long. It’s my third season training and to win this prize is unreal.”