Dettori teams up with old ally Dunlop in Leger Legends

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Ed Dunlop considers himself “honoured” to have Frankie Dettori riding Roca Magica for him in the Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes at Doncaster on Wednesday.

The 49-year-old Italian jockey has won just about everything in the game – and was determined to sign up for the race when conditions were changed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In the past it has been exclusively for retired riders, but this year it is for current professionals only, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

It has become an established attraction on the opening day of the St Leger Festival on Town Moor since its inception in 2010, and has raised more than £1.1million for Jack Berry House and the Northern Racing College.

Trainer Ed Dunlop was delighted to acquire the services of Frankie Dettori
Trainer Ed Dunlop was delighted to acquire the services of Frankie Dettori (Simon Cooper/PA)

Dunlop and Dettori have successfully teamed up in many big races over the years, including with Lailani (2001 Irish Oaks and Nassau Stakes), Ouija Board (2006 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare and Nassau Stakes) and Snow Fairy (2012 Irish Champion Stakes).

This may be low key in comparison, but both trainer and jockey are taking it very seriously.

“Frankie was very keen to ride in the race – it’s the Legends race and we’ve got a legend riding for us, so we’re very honoured,” said Dunlop.

Roca Magica has had a busy year, despite racing being shut down from the middle of March until the beginning of June.

The four-year-old filly has run 12 times, winning five of them, and Dunlop reports his charge to be in rude health, though he cannot estimate what effect her far-side draw in a field of 22 will have on the outcome.

“Drawn one, I’m not sure that’s ideal, but this filly has been a star. She’s won five races this year. She seems in very good form,” said the Newmarket trainer.

Many other stars of the turf are in action, including Tom Queally, who became a household name as the ever-present rider of Frankel, arguably the greatest horse of all time.

Tom Queally is famed for his exploits with Frankel
Tom Queally is famed for his exploits with Frankel (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

Queally rides the John Ryan-trained Catch My Breath, who is drawn on the opposite side of the track to Dettori’s mount in stall 22.

Paul Hanagan is back firing on all cylinders after recently returning from a long spell on the sidelines. The champion jockey of 2010 and 2011, he rides Lexington Warfare for Richard Fahey.

Jim Crowley, who took the title in 2016, has had a tremendous season do far. He teams up with Jamie Osborne on Mykonos St John.

Among other top names taking part are William Buick, Danny Tudhope, Graham Lee and Tom Marquand.

Logician returns to Doncaster

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Last year’s St Leger hero Logician is set to make his eagerly-awaited return to action at Doncaster on Thursday.

The unbeaten Frankel colt, trained by John Gosden, has been absent since his Classic success on Town Moor 12 months ago.

Frankie Dettori’s mount will face just two rivals in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Conditions Stakes over an extended 10 furlongs – the Charlie Appleby-trained Mythical Magic and Sir Michael Stoute’s dual Group Three scorer Zaaki.

Yorkshire Oaks runner-up Alpinista is one of eight fillies declared for the bet365 Park Hill Stakes.

Sir Mark Prescott’s three-year-old was beaten five lengths by the brilliant Love on the Knavesmire and steps up from a mile and a half to an extended mile and three-quarters in the Group Two heat.

Stoute sends out Galtres Stakes runner-up Vivionn – with William Haggas saddling Monica Sheriff, who was fourth in the Ebor after a long absence.

Roger Varian’s Believe In Love has won her last four races, and there is strong Irish representation in Joseph O’Brien’s Pista (William Buick) and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Snow (Dettori). David O’Meara’s Makawee and Charlie Fellowes’ Dubious Affair complete the field.

Kevin Ryan’s Star Of Emaraaty, shock winner of the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket last time, sets the standard in the bet365 May Hill Fillies’ Stakes.

Dettori and Gosden team up with the once-raced Yarmouth winner Indigo Girl as she steps into Group Two company – while another unbeaten runner among the nine-strong line-up is the Varian-trained Zabeel Queen, who created a good impression in her Ascot success.

Brilliant Battaash still has Breeders’ Cup option

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Charlie Hills appears increasingly keen on taking Battaash to America for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, should all go well in the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp.

The Lambourn trainer reports his crack sprinter to be in tip-top shape ahead of the five-furlong Group One on October 4, and is expecting a big run .

Battaash has been in tremendous form this season, winning all his three starts and hopes are high he can regain the Abbaye crown he lifted in 2017 and make up for defeats in the last two years.

“He’s only had three runs this year. He’s fresh, he’s well and is in great shape. I couldn’t be more pleased will how Battaash is training,” Hills told Sky Sports Racing.

“He looks very proud at what he is doing. His enthusiasm levels are great.

“As long as the ground stays reasonably good for France then that’s where we’ll go.”

Should he head to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup on November 7 he would have the chance to make amends for the dramatic defeat of his owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Dayjur in 1990, when he jumped a shadow just yards from the post with victory in sight.

“There’s every chance. If he was really impressive in the Abbaye and he’s fit and well we’ll have to speak to Sheikh Hamdan and he’ll make the decision,” said Hills.

“He won at Royal Ascot first time out this year so why can’t he have his first run at Ascot again next year. There are plenty of routes to take.

“Battaash is the most important thing to us – his health and well-being. That is what we’ll train him for.”

Princess Zoe returns to Galway to test Listed potential

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Dual Galway Festival winner Princess Zoe is set to move up to Listed level on her return to Ballybrit for the Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes.

Since finishing second on her Irish debut for Tony Mullins at Navan in June, the German recruit has clocked a hat-trick of wins – with a facile success at the Curragh supplemented by a pair of lucrative premier handicap wins in the space of six days at Galway.

The five-year-old daughter of Jukebox Jury goes in search of some valuable black type in Tuesday’s mile-and-a-half feature.

“She’s gone from a rating of 64 up to 101 – now she has to prove it in Listed company,” Mullins said, in a video posted on his Twitter account.

“If it goes smoothly we’ll probably consider the Prix du Cadran (at ParisLongchamp next month).

“The steps she has taken are huge, but now we’re in the open league.

“They say Galway is quite an idiosyncratic track – and when they handle it, it’s very inviting to chance going back again.”

Princess Zoe is due to face 15 rivals, with several powerhouse yards represented.

Aidan O’Brien saddles a trio of runners in Ennistymon, Elizabethofaragon and Holy Roman Empress – as does his son Joseph, with Mighty Blue, Snapraeceps and Lady Dahlia all declared.

Joseph’s younger brother Donnacha O’Brien also has a representative in Oh So True – while the Ger Lyons-trained Yaxeni, Dermot Weld’s Katiba and Jessica Harrington’s pair of Barrington Court and Royal Free Hotel also feature.

Alkumait has Mill Reef target

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Marcus Tregoning may step Alkumait up in class for the Group Two Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury later this month.

The son of Showcasing got off the mark with an authoritative performance in a Goodwood maiden over six furlongs, having shown promise on his debut at Newbury.

“I think the plan at the moment is to run him in the Mill Reef two weeks from last Saturday – that’s where he’s probably going to go,” said Tregoning.

“If he didn’t go there, he could step up a furlong, possibly, and go for the Horris Hill. He may even do both – but at the moment it looks like we’re going to enter him in the Mill Reef and have a look at that.”

The Whitsbury trainer also has a decent prospect in the lightly-raced three-year-old Modmin, who landed the odds in emphatic style at Goodwood on his third start to give jockey Jim Crowley a 2000th career success.

Tregoning sees the Tamayuz gelding’s future as a handicapper over a mile.

He added: “I think he’s pretty decent class handicapper, shall I say. He goes on any ground.

“I’ve always been a fan of Tamayuz. I haven’t had many of them, I’ve had or two. He was obviously a good horse by Nayef.

“Modmin is certainly not slow. We haven’t got a race in mind just yet. It wasn’t a very good race the other day, but I’d say he’s mildly progressive at this moment.”

Kirstenbosch has Pride Stakes date on her radar

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The Pride Stakes at Newmarket could be the next objective for Kirstenbosch after chasing home the brilliant Enable at Kempton on Saturday.

James Fanshawe’s filly was a 33-1 shot for the Group Three September Stakes, having finished fifth in the Upavon Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury last month on what was her first competitive appearance of 2020.

And while the daughter of Mount Nelson was predictably no match for John Gosden’s dual Arc heroine, Kirstenbosch delighted her connections as she narrowly beat the globetrotting Melbourne Cup contender Prince Of Arran to the runner-up spot.

Fanshawe said: “Poor old Kirstenbosch, she barely got a mention! Obviously all the attention was on Enable and nobody really noticed Kirstenbosch ran the race of her life to be second.

“She got some black type, which was the plan, and we were delighted with her.

“We might look at the Pride Stakes at Newmarket (October 9) next.”

The Newmarket handler was similarly pleased with the performance of stable stalwart The Tin Man in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The Tin Man performed creditably in his third Sprint Cup
The Tin Man performed creditably in his third Sprint Cup (Clint Hughes/PA)

Winner of the race in 2018 and narrowly denied by Hello Youmzain in last year’s renewal, the eight-year-old finished sixth on this occasion, but was beaten only four lengths.

Fanshawe would like to lower The Tin Man’s sights in an attempt to help him bag a first win since his triumph on Merseyside two years ago.

He added: “He ran a good race. The draw didn’t help. I don’t like making excuses, (but) if he’d been drawn on the other side he might have finished a bit closer.

“He’s come out of the race very well. He seems to have been in as good a form as he’s ever been this year at home and he’s run three very good races, I think.

“It would be nice to find him something a bit easier, but there aren’t many opportunities for him – you’ve got the Bengough Stakes at Ascot two weeks before the Champions Sprint, otherwise you’re looking at five and seven-furlong races.”

Fanshawe also ran 50-1 outsider Archer’s Dream in the Sprint Cup, but she was ultimately well-beaten in 10th place.

He said: “We were probably asking a bit much from her, but having won over the course and distance on soft ground the time before, we decided to give it a go as you never know what can happen in these races.

“She seems fine since and I think we might drop her back to five furlongs next time.”

Supremacy set to tackle Middle Park

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Clive Cox reports Supremacy to be on course for this month’s Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, after recovering from a slight setback.

The impressive Richmond Stakes winner was ruled out of the Gimcrack at York with a bad scope, having missed the Prix Morny at Deauville because of the testing conditions.

“He’s in great form, and we are heading towards the Middle Park – that’s his intended target at the end of the season,” said Cox.

“It’s just great he’s another high-class two-year-old performer (for us).”

Cox ran Nando Parrado in the Morny, and the shock Coventry Stakes scorer did not let the Lambourn trainer down – taking the runner-up spot behind Campanelle.

“He is back very well indeed from his second in the Morny,” he added.

“Although we have entries covered over six furlongs in the Middle Park, similarly the autumn ground holds no fears with him, and we’re keen to give him the option of stepping up to seven furlongs as well at this stage.

“He’s in the Dewhurst (also at Newmarket) and the (Prix Jean-Luc) Lagardere (at ParisLongchamp) as well. He’s well entered – and I’m thrilled to report he’s come back from a very solid performance, being second in the Morny to a very good filly.

“We’ll play the cards accordingly and keep an open mind.”

Cox has a strong hand in the juvenile department, with Cobh another class act in his yard.

Cobh’s victory in a Listed race at Salisbury was given a boost when the runner-up Fancy Man won the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

“He’s another well-entered individual that won the Stonehenge at Salisbury very convincingly over a mile,” he said.

“It was great for Kodi Bear’s first crop of two-year-olds to have a classy performer like him carrying the flag.

“He was second in Listed company on quick ground at Ascot – so he’s also very versatile – and I think although he’s won over a mile, we’re keeping an open mind on seven furlong races as well.

“He’s a horse we’re very pleased with.”

Cobh is likely to tackle a Group race next rather than take up his entry in the Weatherbys Racing Bank £200,000 2yo Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday.

“I think he’s probably going to stay in Pattern company,” said Cox.

“He is in the Royal Lodge – and he’s well entered, with no going concerns either.”

Baffert eyes Preakness Stakes for Authentic

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Bob Baffert has his sights set on a second Classic win for Kentucky Derby hero Authentic.

The Into Mischief colt will not have the chance to follow in the hoofprints of Baffert’s Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) – because the Belmont Stakes, which is usually the final leg of the hat-trick, has already been run this year.

Calendar changes enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic meant the Belmont was run in June – with victor Tiz The Law aiming to add to his impressive victory in last Saturday’s Kentucky feature, which was delayed from May.

However, Authentic proved a length and a quarter too good at Churchill Downs, and Baffert is eager to tackle runner-up Tiz The Law again in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on October 3.

The handler could also have a second string to his bow in Maryland – with Thousand Words, who was a late withdrawal at Kentucky after rearing over in the paddock, also on the trail.

Baffert told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast: “Right now, the plan is I’m going to leave him here. I was going to take him back to California tomorrow and then bring him back to the Preakness, but I think that would be too much for him because he’s a light horse and I want to give him his best chance.

“What I’m going to do is leave him in Kentucky and we’ll just run him from here, take him to the Preakness and take another shot at Tiz The Law – and if he’s doing well we’ll take him and Thousand Words, give him another try. We’ll get a saddle on Thousand Words – it was just really bad luck there.”

Authentic is a best-priced 11-2 with Paddy Power for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on November 7, but Baffert is not committing to that race at present.

He added: “I’m not sure what after that (the Preakness). I’m like the weather in Kentucky, I can switch and change – I see things and I go with my gut on things like that.

“I might change my mind and run back in California, I don’t know.”

Chindit set to bid for Champagne glory

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Chindit is on course to try to give trainer Richard Hannon a third victory in the bet365 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

The Marlbourgh handler took Saturday’s Group Two contest for two-year-olds over seven furlongs with Threat 12 months ago and Estidhkaar in 2014 – while his father won it three times.

Chindit is unbeaten in two starts, having taken a Listed contest at Ascot in July following a debut success over this seven furlongs earlier that month.

Karl Burke may give Spycatcher the chance to lose his maiden tag, after finishing second in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York last month.

Broxi, who was third that day for Keith Dalgleish, is also among the 16 entries.

Owen Burrow’s Albasheer, who romped home by six and a half lengths over the course and distance on debut in July, is an interesting contender – along with Roger Varian’s Newbury Listed victor Saint Lawrence.

There are eight possibles from Ireland – Joseph O’Brien’s Snapraeterea, State Of Rest, Thunder Moon and Vafortino, three trained by his father Aidan, Duke Of Mantua, St Mark’s Basilica and Wembley and John Joseph Murphy’s Charterhouse.

Limato could try to repeat his win five years ago in the bet365 Park Stakes.

Henry Candy’s stable stalwart lifted the Group Two heat over the straight seven furlongs as a three-year-old in 2015, on his only previous attempt.

The Tagula gelding has won a host of major races in his career, including two Group Ones. He took his Pattern-race tally to 12 when successful in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket in June.

One of Limato’s two triumphs at the top level was in the Prix de la Foret in 2016.

One Master, who has won the last two renewals of the Longchamp feature, is also among 15 entries for the Park Stakes.

Others include Breathtaking Look, Glorious Journey, Molatham and Marie’s Diamond.

Aidan O’Brien has three possibles – Lancaster House, Arizona and Wichita – while Joseph O’Brien’s Speak In Colours takes the Irish representation to four.

Pyledriver spot on for St Leger challenge

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William Muir is confident Pyledriver is at the top of his game for the Pertemps St Leger at Doncaster.

The Harbour Watch colt was a 40-1 shot when runner-up on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton in early June, but has made giant strides since and disputes favouritism with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Santiago for the season’s final Classic on Saturday.

Muir acknowledges success on Town Moor would be a huge achievement for his small team during a time when, more often than not, the top prizes go to the bigger yards.

He said: “There’s a great mood in the camp. We have seven staff riding out, three staff in the yard, the staff in the office and me. It’s a small team, and everyone is delighted.

“We have about 26 horses. We’re not a fashionable yard – everyone wants somebody younger and more fashionable. It’s just one of those things, but if this horse could go and win on Saturday it would be fantastic for the whole team and everyone around it.”

A surprise win in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot was followed by a luckless run in the Derby at Epsom, since when Pyledriver has given weight and a sound beating to his rivals in the Great Voltigeur at York last month.

Muir revealed the colt’s owners have received “life-changing” offers to sell over the course of the summer, but have so far resisted all potential buyers for a horse who did not even meet his reserve of £10,000 when sent to the sales as a foal.

William Muir with Pyledriver after his Royal Ascot triumph
William Muir with Pyledriver after his Royal Ascot triumph (Edward Whitaker/PA)

“Anybody can come into this game, go out with a relatively small amount of money and you can find these good horses. They’re hard to come by, but you can find them,” Muir added.

“The owners have turned down some big offers. If the offers had been accepted I don’t think he would have stayed in this country – places like Australia and Hong Kong wanted him really badly.

“If one person had owned him, you couldn’t have said no to the kind of offers we got – it was life-changing money – but there’s three of them, and they wanted to keep him.”

The Lambourn handler insists he could not be happier with his stable star as he completes preparations for a race that is part of the 2020 Qipco British Champions Series – and he is optimistic the son of unbeaten sprinter Harbour Watch will stay the distance of a mile and three-quarters.

“He’s in great order and has done all the work he needs to do. As long as he stays like this for the rest of the week, I couldn’t be taking him there in better shape,” said Muir.

“I’ve always been a glass-half-full kind of person – my glass is always overflowing, to be fair.

“I think he will stay and I think we’ve got a great chance, but it is a horse race. I thought we had a great chance in the Derby, and it all went wrong, but you shake yourself down and go again.”

Whatever happens this weekend, Muir already has his eyes on some other major races – both this year and next.

“He’ll go for the Champion Stakes at Ascot after Saturday, as long as the hose is fine. That will be his last run of the year, because we’re not going abroad – it’s too difficult with the Covid,” Muir added.

“Next year is mapped out already in my mind. You could start off at Newmarket in the Jockey Club Stakes, then you’d go Coronation Cup at Epsom, Hardwicke at Royal Ascot, the King George – and at the back-end of the season, if we’re out of this Covid, we could go for the Arc.”

Pyledriver was one of 15 horses left in the St Leger at Monday’s confirmation stage.

As well as Santiago, Aidan O’Brien may be represented by Dawn Patrol, Mythical and Tiger Moth – while his son Joseph could saddle the progressive Galileo Chrome.

English King is among Pyledriver's potential rivals
English King is among Pyledriver’s potential rivals (Mark Cranham/PA)

Other leading hopes include the Owen Burrows-trained Hukum, Mark Johnston’s Subjectivist and Ed Walker’s English King.

The latter also has the option of running in the Grand Prix de Paris the following afternoon.

“He’s in great form and is all set to run somewhere this weekend,” said Walker.

“We’ll have a look at both races during the week, see what the ground is looking like and decide where we go.

“We’ll make a decision much closer to the time.”