Return to Today's Full Edition

Phone: (800)354-9206
edit.staff@brisnet.com

ARCHIVES
 
 Printer Friendly Page 

Dettori realistic about chances against Frankel

Frankie Dettori is set to partner last year's winner Poet's Voice in Saturday's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Successful by a nose over Rip Van Winkle 12 months ago, the four-year-old has been winless since, but was third in Newmarket's Group 2 Joel Stakes last time. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor also has the six-year-old Rio de la Plata among the entries, but Dettori is sticking with the younger of the pair.

"Poet's Voice was good enough to win the race last year," Dettori commented. "He's a lovely old horse and I think he can run a good race."

The Italian was in pessimistic mood, however, as he faces up to the current 1-3 favorite Frankel in the prestigious mile contest.

"He's a good horse, but we're all running for second, really, as Frankel will be hard to beat," Dettori added. "He's an absolute superstar. I've ridden against him three times now and I've never even seen his face. He's a joy to watch; you can see that he just loves running. He just breaks away and destroys his rivals. He's a very exciting horse. I think the only way we can beat Frankel is if we set off five minutes before him."

One who will not be lining up alongside the Cecil goliath is Cityscape. The Group 1 Premio Vittorio di Capua runner-up will only run if the operation's main contender is a non-runner, trainer Roger Charlton tweeted Tuesday.

In other maneuvers, Richard Hughes is set to partner Dick Turpin, who beat Cityscape in the Vittorio di Capua last time, which leaves connections of Dubawi Gold looking elsewhere.

"At the moment, Richard is veering towards Dick Turpin, which is understandable on official ratings," owner Andrew Tinkler's Racing Manager Tim Jones told PA Sport. "But if Hughesie does ride Dick Turpin, there are naturally other top jockeys available. Johnny Murtagh knows the horse well, though, and has a good relationship with Andrew. There's also Ryan Moore waiting in the wings, so we're in a good position."


 

CLICK HERE


Send this article to a friend