'He's still one of the best' - Frankie Dettori lands $3.5m Nashville Derby on Wimbledon Hawkeye in landmark moment for James Owen

The James Owen-trained Wimbledon Hawkeye made a successful raid in the US, taking out the $3.5 million Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs with Frankie Dettori aboard.

The three-year-old, owned by the Gredley family, had gone close in six starts in Britain without winning this season, including finishing third in the Dante and a nose second to Merchant in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on his last start.

Luckily for Owen and the Gredleys, who had flown out to Tennessee for the race, he was on the right side of a photo-finish to hold off Burnham Square by a head. From the $3.5 million purse, $1.5 million was available solely to registered Kentucky-bred horses, meaning Wimbledon Hawkeye raced for $2 million. 

The success represents a new highlight for the emerging partnership between the owner-trainer combination, a link which was initially established to have jumps horses. Tim Gredley's relationship with Dettori stretches even further, as the pair were neighbours in Italy for 20 years.

Gredley said: "It’s great to have my old pal riding the horse, not just because he’s my friend, but because he’s still one of the best.

"This is massive. We're almost running for as much money as the Derby. It's a massive incentive, it's quite addictive, and I think, hopefully, more European horses will come to take them on." 

The success was also a landmark moment for Owen, who has quickly emerged as one of Britain's most successful dual-purpose trainers in recent years, having been six-time champion with Arabian horses from his Newmarket base.

Wimbledon Hawkeye had not won since last season's Royal Lodge at Newmarket in September but has been campaigned in some of the top three-year-old contests this season, including when fifth in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Owen, who was visiting the US for the first time, said: "The horse is improving. He's not the biggest, but he's getting stronger all the time, and he's very consistent. I'm privileged to train him." 

Wimbledon Hawkeye: gained his first success at three in the Nashville DerbyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Dettori sealed back-to-back wins in the race having guided the Andrew Balding-trained Bellum Justum to victory last summer. It is his most valuable winner of the year, although he landed the Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap aboard Raging Torrent in June.

It was also an emotional success for the veteran jockey after the death of his best friend.

"Good result for me. I lost my best friend two weeks ago in Dubai," he said. "I was thinking of quitting. If it wasn't for his strength, I don't think I would be riding here this meet. I'm doing it for him; he would want me to carry on.

• WATCH: Full replay of Wimbledon Hawkeye's Nashville Derby win

"Wimbledon Hawkeye stayed the distance well and he's proven on grass. The only thing I was a bit afraid of is that he's danced every dance this year and always put his heart into it. It's a big, long trip for a three-year-old but he was bucking and kicking. 

"I had him in a good spot and I said if anyone is in doubt about stamina, I'll make sure they are. I kicked early and he [Burnham Square] came at me but Wimbledon Hawkeye stuck his head out for me. I'm pleased for my connections."

Dettori also partnered the Charlie Hills-trained Khaadem to finish third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Sprint Stakes, while Cheshire Dancer was fourth for Hugo Palmer in the Ladies Turf Sprint.

Fierceness overturns odds-on Journalism at Del Mar

Preakness Stakes winner Journalism suffered a shock defeat in the Pacific Classic Stakes to Fierceness at Del Mar.

He was a 2-5 shot bidding for a fourth Grade 1 success of the season but was no match for one of the star three-year-olds from last season, who powered three and a quarter lengths clear.

Fierceness was cut to 8-1 (from 18) to go one better in the Breeders' Cup Classic on November 1, having chased home Sierra Leone last year. Journalism is as big as 10-1 following the defeat.

Read more . . .

Ballydoyle rocked by shock news that Ryan Moore will miss rest of Flat season with a broken leg 

Ryan Moore injury: what major fixtures will he miss and who might get some big opportunities? 

Go Racing this September: western-themed raceday at Kempton and Oktoberfest comes to Chester - plus the best St Leger festival deals 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.