Dettori and Twilight Gleaming set up Breeders' Cup date with Deauville success

Twilight Gleaming gave Wesley Ward and Frankie Dettori the perfect start to a big weekend when holding off the persistent challenge of the Tom Dascombe-trained Delmona to land the Listed Prix de la Vallee d'Auge at Deauville.

The pair will be hoping for more of the same with Campanelle in the Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday but Twilight Gleaming, who was second to Quick Suzy in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, kept her end of the bargain up and looks likely to be in the Ward squad for the Breeders' Cup.

"I was worried about the ground, which is completely different to Ascot, so I was trying to save her a bit and Olivier [Peslier] got the jump on me," said Dettori. "She fought really well and I expect her to be better on faster ground, but she's very honest."

Despite several heavy showers Dettori described the ground as no worse than good to soft and although Twilight Gleaming was not wildly impressive, Delmona brought good form into the race, having been beaten a neck by Zain Claudette in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes over six furlongs.

There were three and a half lengths to Royal Ashirah in third, while the rest of the seven-runner field came in at long intervals.

Dettori added: "The Breeders' Cup [Juvenile Turf Sprint] is the target and that's why Wesley begged me to come and ride her today.

"If the ground was quicker I would have made more use of her, but there's a headwind and I was trying to save a bit. The margin wasn't big but she got the job done."

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