Flying Officer storms home© Photo Healy Racing
Frankie Dettori continued his stellar season when striking on Flying Officer in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.
The Derby and Arc-winning rider brought Flying Officer (6-1) with a great run in the straight to take the Group Two two-mile test.
John Gosden's five-year-old, now unbeaten in three starts in 2015, showed a fine turn of foot to lead two out and take a few lengths out of the field, just as there was trouble behind involving several runners, among them last year's winner Forgotten Rules.
Clever Cookie came with a late run, but was a length down at the line. Wicklow Brave was the same distance away in third.
Dettori - like Gosden celebrating a first success on Champions Day - said: "He was very brave for me, I managed to get a split in the straight and he won well.
"He's got very low mileage and he's unbeaten this year - he's on the way up.
"He's a big unit, for sure."
Gosden said: "We'll put him away for next year, for all the Cup races.
"Today he got his act together, as he's quite a character. His brother Lucarno was a big, aggressive horse, but he is more inclined to have a look around as to what's going on.
"The plan was to sit second, and I said to George (Strawbridge, owner) 'what is he doing back there?', but the gap appeared and Frankie nipped up there and that was the race-winning move."
Clever Cookie's trainer Peter Niven said: "I think he's been exceptionally unlucky, he was drawn in 13 and was never in a position we wanted to be. Graham (Lee) tried everything he could.
"He had to switch round the field and made up a lot of ground late on, but the winner got first run on us.
"I thought he was cherry-ripe coming here today, and even though he got beat we still have a fair horse on our hands. I think with there being so much money on the Flat I'd be tempted to avoid risking him over hurdles.
"There are plenty of races at the end of the season for him and at the start, so he might split his season next year."
