The US meeting’s vainglorious claim to be racing’s ‘World Championships’ is edging a little closer to reality

The news that Frankie Dettori will replace Kieren Shoemark on Emily Upjohn in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar was undoubtedly a disappointment for John Gosden’s stable jockey, but it also put the finishing touch to what promises to be an all-star cast in California this weekend.

The only surprise about Gosden’s move, perhaps, is that anyone was surprised. It is hardly the first time that the trainer has turned to Dettori and his wealth of experience at US racing’s showpiece meeting, most memorably when the Italian replaced Jimmy Fortune aboard Raven’s Pass in the 2008 Classic and delivered the only success to date for a British yard in the Breeders’ Cup’s showpiece event.