FRANKIE DETTORl rounded off a golden year with another, major international victory at Shad Tin racecourse yesterday. Dettori simply oozed confidence as he partnered Luso to a comfortable success in the International Vase over 12 furlongs.
Much-travelled Luso, who paid around 2 to 1, beat the fast-finishing Australian raider Royal Snack by one and a half lengths.
Clive Brittain, who trains Luso at Newmarket, said: "It's down to the confidence of Frankie. He's on top of the world and doing everything right."
Former stable lad, Brittain (63), has been a great advocate of international racing and was the first English trainer to win a Breeders' Cup race and the Japan Cup.
He said modestly: "All I have to do is get them as fit as trouts. Luso was ridden by a jockey on top of the world and this is another great day for the yard."
Two weeks ago Dettori won the Japan Cup on Singspiel for another Newmarket trainer, Michael Stoute, the success coming hard on the heels of the historic feat of riding seven winners from seven rides at Ascot.
There was more Newmarket joy when First Island, trained by Geoff Wragg, won the day's most valuable race, the International Cup, worth over £487,000 to the winner.
Patiently ridden by Michael' Hills, Wragg's four-year-old - a 15 to 8 shot - came from last to first to beat Australian challenger Seascay by three-quarters of a length. First Island was crowning, a brilliant season which also included victories at Royal Ascot and Goodwood.
Wragg said: "This has been a long year for First Island. He has been on the go since January and was working with Pentire prior to his World Cup bid. He will probably stay in training in 1997.
Hong Kong hopeful, Benji, trained by Patrick Biancone, led from the start but faded to finished fourth. US raider Da Hoss, pre-race favourite after winning the Breeders' Cup Mile, failed a routine drug test on Saturday and had to be pulled out. Mateo, another American horse, also failed a similar test.
The International Bowl, raced over seven furlongs, was won for the second year in succession by Australian challenger Monopolize, the mount of Darren Beadman.
The six-year-old had the benefit of the inside rail as Beadman kicked for home in the straight and held on by a fast diminishing short head from Japan's Dojima Muteki.
After the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow, Belmont King was promoted to 9-2 favourite by William Hill for the Coral Welsh National.
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