Queens Gamble is in line to continue her hurdles education when making her first start for Harry Derham at Newbury on Thursday.

The five-year-old was an early fancy for the 2023 Champion Bumper after impressively winning a pair of Cheltenham bumpers when previously trained by Oliver Sherwood.

She suffered a narrow reversal at the hands of Fergal O’Brien’s subsequent Aintree scorer Dysart Enos in her Cheltenham Festival tune-up at Market Rasen and although struggling to land a blow on rain-softened ground at the Festival itself, she remains of real potential as she seeks further experience over timber.

With Sherwood having bowed out from his illustrious training career, Queens Gamble now finds himself in the care of Lambourn-based Derham, with chestnut’s former handler working alongside as the young trainer’s assistant.

Derham is keen to get a run into the talented mare before her first key assignment of the year in the Listed Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” For Free Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury in early December.

He said: “She obviously did very well in her bumpers and it is very kind of Alex Frost and Ed Galvin and their families to send her to me and we hope that she progresses over hurdles this season.

“She will be entered for Newbury and we would like to go there, but I don’t think her owners or any of us would like to run her on bottomless ground and that would be something to consider.

“She’s ready to start her season now, so if we can go to Newbury that would be great and if not then we will find a suitable alternative quite soon.

“Her first big target is at Newbury during the Winter Carnival on December 2, the mares’ Listed novice hurdle, so we would love to get a run into her before then if we can.

“She’s obviously got to go and do it over hurdles and I’m confident she will. I don’t want to plan too far in advance but she’s looked very good in her bumpers and I’ve no reason to believe she won’t do well over hurdles.”

Queens Gamble was given an early introduction to hurdles at Warwick in May and although the manner of victory was far from emphatic, her training team feel there is a lot more to come.

Derham continued: “She won at Warwick and I think everyone was a little underwhelmed that day, but Oliver and the team there just felt she wasn’t quite at her best and won despite that.

“Obviously I’ve only known her since the beginning of this season and Oliver’s team seem to think she is a lot stronger this year. I’m certainly very pleased with what I can see and really looking forward to her.”

Although keen to take his time with an operator who could easily become the fledgling handler’s stable star, a return to the Cheltenham Festival for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle could be on the cards for the spring if Queens Gamble progresses as expected throughout the season.

“That would be a big target this season if she keeps improving,” added Derham.

“Her bumper form would make her a live contender for a race like that and her schooling this autumn has been really good.

“So I do have that in the back of my mind and I don’t want to over-race her this winter with the thought that if she keeps improving and we can get her to the spring in good form, then that would be lovely.”

White Birch skips an option at Kempton on Monday but connections have high hopes there are plenty of nice prizes for him to win next season.

Third in the Derby to Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel, his only disappointing effort was in the Irish equivalent when he was hampered by an injured rival.

After that he went close at Leopardstown in a Group Three behind Adelaide River and he was entered in the Listed Floodlit Stakes at Kempton.

However, he is now finished for the season but all the major middle distance races will be on his radar next term.

George Murphy, assistant trainer and son of trainer John, said: “We decided he wouldn’t travel and that looks like the end for this year.

“He stays in training and we’re really looking forward to him. It’s easy to put a line through the Irish Derby and other than that, he ran some massive races.

“We’re really looking forward to next year, when he should be able to compete in a lot of nice races and do very well.

“Something like the Tattersalls Gold Cup will be an option, there are lots of races we can aim at so we’ll sit down and make a plan over the winter.”

There was Breeders’ Cup heartbreak for Live In The Dream as Nobals showed tremendous speed to claim the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

Adam West’s Nunthorpe winner was one of the fancied runners for the five-furlong event and although showing plenty of his famous early pace from an ideal draw in stall five, his petrol tank ran empty in the closing stages as those from off the pace finished with a flourish.

One of those was the Larry Rivelli-trained four-year-old who had followed Live In The Dream on the inner and got the perfect split that allowed his rider Gerardo Corrales to surge up the rail for victory.

It was a first Breeders’ Cup success for Rivelli, as Nobals held on from the fast-finishing Big Invasion and Aidan O’Brien’s Aesop’s Fables. Live In The Dream gamely kept on once headed to finish an honourable fourth under Sean Kirrane.

Epsom-based West said: “It feels like a giant kick in the b*******, but we’ve finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“We came here as favourites and we believe in this horse. I had dinner with Mick Appleby and the connections of Big Evs and it crossed my mind we could be locking horns in Del Mar next year.

“This is sprint racing and we were collared in the final 100 yards.”

Kirrane said: “He jumped very well, but I needed to hold onto him and the first quarter was run in 21 and change.

“The bend was a bit tight and he was inclined to hang a good bit.”

Of the winner, Rivelli said: “I just thought on paper it was a coin toss and we got lucky, we had a good trip and Coralles rode him perfect. The plan was to be closer and we got a bit shuffled back, but the gap opened up and he was gone. I knew he would go through it, but I was looking for the wire real fast at the end too.

“We’ll come back next year and try to do it again. It’s my first one (Breeders’ Cup win) and I’m going to tear the town down.”

White Abarrio made a real statement as he claimed the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic in commanding fashion.

Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr, the four-year-old arrived at Santa Anita on the back of an impressive victory in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga.

Big-race jockey Irad Ortiz Jr always had his mount hot on the tail of Bob Baffert’s Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight and entering the stretch they looked to have the race between them.

Having beaten off Arabian Knight with the wire approaching, White Abarrio refused to be passed as Japanese contender Derma Sotogake and Proxy made their challenge in the closing stages.

It was a second winner of the Classic for his trainer, who only returned from a 10-year suspension for medication and administration violations in February earlier this year.

Dutrow said: “It’s incredible and the only way I can get this feeling is through this horse. I don’t know how I’m feeling right now, it’s just incredible stuff what I’m going through right now.

“I thought he was the winner the whole way round the track, he broke good and was sat with a couple of horses in front of him which he likes. He came up on the outside and when he did that I knew at that point we had nothing in our way, it was just a matter of if someone could come and catch us. I felt good.

“It wasn’t unlike when I won the Classic with Saint Liam. Winning this is an indescribable feeling. I don’t really know what I’m going through right now. It feels unbelievable, I love it.”

He added: “I don’t feel I’m back at the top, but I feel like the white horse is. I feel lucky being around him.

“I came back seven months ago. I hope this will help me pick up better horses and quality clients and I’m gonna be striving for it calling everyone up once I leave Disneyland.”

It was very much mission accomplished for Auguste Rodin, who was given the perfect ride by Ryan Moore to bring his season to a brilliant climax in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

Aidan O’Brien had long had this race in mind for his dual Derby hero, a plan firmed up after his thrilling victory in the Irish Champion Stakes, which cemented his place in his trainer’s affections.

There has been the odd hiccup in Auguste Rodin’s journey to stardom, but he has always bounced back from his setbacks in style and thrived in his first taste of international competition.

As when tasting Derby success at Epsom, the son of Deep Impact was ridden with patience by Moore, who rounding the turn for home found a golden passage up the rail and wasted little time in snatching the opportunity.

The Coolmore number one soon sent his mount for home and he surged clear of top American turf challenger Up To The Mark to give O’Brien a record-extending seventh success in a race Europeans continue to dominate.

Paying tribute to Moore’s ride, O’Brien said: “He had incredible confidence in him. He was drawn handy and he thought he might be handier, but when he was not, Ryan knew. What an incredible ride.

“The race wasn’t working out for us like we hoped. But Ryan knew at the top of the bend where he wanted to go.

“You can see the pace that he has, he was able to quicken when he wanted him to and it was a brilliant ride. He doesn’t do much when he gets there and that was a little worry because Ryan sent him down the inside and he ended up getting there early.

“He’s a super horse and during the week the way he was cantering on the dirt I was wondering have we done the right thing, should we have had him in the other race (Breeders’ Cup Classic). He was cruising on the dirt, most other horses don’t handle it when they are not used to it really, but he was incredible really.

“We’ve always felt he has a beautiful action and that he’s a kind of dream horse.

“His dam (Rhododendron) was one of the best Galileo mares ever, and he’s the absolute double of his grandsire (Sunday Silence). His pedigree brings the best of Japan and Europe together.”

Reflecting further on Moore at his very best, O’Brien said: “Ryan doesn’t waste any energy in being anything other than what he is. He’s familiar with all the top tracks and the top races.

“He says he can’t be getting better, but he’s 40 and I’ve told him you peak at 45.”

Moore said: “I got squeezed out and horses were getting in each other’s way. I didn’t like where I was, but once he got there he did it very easily. Considering how the race went against him in the early stages, it was a really big performance.

“Going up the rail was Plan F, my horse was getting a bad trip and the reason he won is because he’s so good.

“He’s now won two Derbys, an Irish Champion and come here and beaten proper horses. He had things go against him today, but he overcame them. He’s shown himself to be a good Derby winner and a real top-drawer horse.”

Raising the possibility of Auguste Rodin staying in training as a four-year-old, Coolmore’s MV Magnier said: “We’ve been thinking about it for a while, there’s a lot of things we could do with this horse. We could stand him in America, we could stand him in Europe and there’s definitely a strong possibility we will keep him in training next year.

“How fun would that (Classic) be?”

It was very much mission accomplished for Auguste Rodin, who was given the perfect ride by Ryan Moore to bring his season to a brilliant climax in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

Aidan O’Brien had long had this race in mind for his dual Derby hero, a plan firmed up after his thrilling victory in the Irish Champion Stakes, which cemented his place in his trainer’s affections.

There has been the odd hiccup in Auguste Rodin’s journey to stardom, but he has always bounced back from his setbacks in style and thrived in his first taste of international competition.

As when tasting Derby success at Epsom, the son of Deep Impact was ridden with patience by Moore, who rounding the turn for home found a golden passage up the rail and wasted little time in snatching the opportunity.

The Coolmore number one soon sent his mount for home and he surged clear of top American turf challenger Up To The Mark to give O’Brien a record-extending seventh success in a race Europeans continue to dominate.

Charlie Appleby enhanced his fine Breeders’ Cup record, with Master Of The Seas flying home late to deny fellow Godolphin raider Mawj in a rip-roaring conclusion to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

With Saeed bin Suroor’s 1000 Guineas heroine tracking the hot pace set by Japanese challenger Win Carnelian, in contrast William Buick had Master Of The Seas held up towards the rear of the field from his outside draw in stall 14.

The order remained unaltered swinging the turn for home when Oisin Murphy decided to angle out Mawj and send the ultra-tough Classic winner for home in what looked a race-winning move.

However, Buick’s patience was rewarded and as the wire approached, Master Of The Seas had one last lung-busting thrust in him to edge out Mawj and lead home an all-British and all-Godolphin one-two.

It was the third straight victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile for both Appleby and Buick following their successes with Space Blues (2021) and Modern Games (2022), while the Moulton Paddocks handler now has 10 Breeders’ Cup victories to his name.

Frankie Dettori was at his brilliant best as he delivered Inspiral to a last-gasp victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly has been one of Dettori’s star performers over the past few seasons, so it was somewhat fitting that she shone once again at Santa Anita, the place Dettori is soon to call home.

Held up towards the rear of mid-division for her first attempt at 10 furlongs, Dettori angled Inspiral out for a run rounding the far turn and flew home to deny Aidan O’Brien’s Warm Heart in the dying strides.

After a year of his ‘farewell tour’, Dettori recently reversed his decision to retire, and will soon be in action full-time in California. He also indicated he would like to keep the ride on Inspiral, which would mean a return to European action.

He said: “She’s always slow out of the gate, but she jumped good and was squeezed out on the fence. I really wanted to be where William (Buick, on With The Moonlight) was, but he got there before me.

“She needs a quarter of a mile to find top gear, and I expected her to find it. Once she did, she was flying. The Filly & Mare was always the plan because we felt the Mile would be too sharp for her.”

He added: “The support from people has been phenomenal, but I can’t do it without the horses and she (Inspiral) has been a star. She’s beaten the boys and first time in the States she has shown what she can do.

“I will disappointed if I’m not on her (next year), but it will depend on the owners. But it is a job done for England and the Cheveley Park team, John Gosden and Thady.

“Coming here this week I felt she was my best ride. It’s great that the banker went in.

“I love the Breeders’ Cup, it’s been my making. This feels really sweet.”

A delighted John Gosden said: “She had a hiccup in the spring and ran in a bog at Goodwood. She was pointing towards the QEII (on Champions Day), but we didn’t even declare her.

“Frankie did the right thing to get her out. I knew she would get the trip well, she would have been an unlucky loser.

“I thought Ryan Moore rode a super race on Warm Heart. Our filly needed all her class the get there. She’s got a superb will, and it’s a wonderful achievement for Cheveley Park.

“Next year options are open. Whether Lockinge and Queen Anne or look at the Juddmonte and the Nassau. I could se the Juddmonte International being a key race for her.”

And it looks like Dettori will get his wish in maintaining the partnership, as Gosden said: “If she’s in great order next year we will seriously look at bringing her back to Del Mar and Frankie will be free to ride her.”

Frankie Dettori was at his brilliant best as he delivered Inspiral to a last-gasp victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained filly has been one of Dettori’s star performers over the past few seasons, so it was somewhat fitting that she shone once again at Santa Anita, the place Dettori is soon to call home.

Held up towards the rear of mid-division for her first attempt at 10 furlongs, Dettori angled Inspiral out for a run rounding the far turn and flew home to deny Aidan O’Brien’s Warm Heart in the dying strides.