Godolphin's ever-ebullient pilot Frankie Dettori seeks to be toast of this year's Royal Ascot meeting given his promising book of rides for the five-day meeting starting here tomorrow.
Dettori is likely to have as many as 19 rides in all, including plum bookings on leading Godolphin fancies Moon Ballad, Dubai Destination, Mamool and Highest and is rated a 11-4 close second favourite behind Kieren Fallon to capture the London Clubs Trophy for riding the most winners at the Royal meeting.
Dettori has ridden 28 winners in all at the prestigious meeting, only two less than overall top jockey Mick Kinane, who also figures prominently among a trivumirate of riders hogging the pre-event spotlight.
While Dettori does not carry Fallon's sizzling form into the meeting he is always known to reserve his best for the best occasions and Royal Ascot certainly fits the bill.
The Italian was thrice champion at Royal Ascot from1997 to '99 before he went winless in 2000 and picked up three and two winners at each of the following meetings.
Besides the volume of rides that he is likely to have over the five thoroughly absorbing days of racing Dettori has picked up high quality rides on Moon Ballad, the Dubai World Cup winner who is a big fancy to land the Prince of Wales' Stakes on Wednesday, and Mamool, who looks unbeatable in Thursday's Gold Cup.
Dettori will be hoping to kick-start his Royal Ascot bid tomorrow when he partners Godolphin's Dubai Destination in the Queen Anne Stakes.
The opening day's showpiece race has also attracted the Irish superstar Hawk Wing, the recent Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes winner.
Whether Dubai Destination, who missed much of last season after sustaining an injury, has the class to upset a horse of Hawk Wing's calibre remains to be seen, but Dettori exuded noteworthy confidence.
"There are a lot of runners and it's a stiff mile at Ascot," said the Italian. "Hawk Wing's not going to have it all his own way this time. My horse is a fresh horse and hopefully he's the business.
"Dubai Destination was a superstar at two, he beat Rock of Gibraltar and it feels like he's come back. So it's going to be a fascinating race.
"Should Dubai Destination upset Hawk Wing it will only serve to fire up Dettori for the rest of the Royal meeting. The Italian sure knows how to turn on the style when the occasion demands, and Godolphin will be hoping that he will too".
Latest odds
2-1: Kieren Fallon
11-4: Frankie Dettori
4-1: Mick Kinane
12-1: Johnny Murtagh
16-1: Richard Hughes
20-1: Darryl Holland
25-1: Kevin Darley
30-1: Christophe Soumillion
40-1: Jamie Spencer
50-1: Pat Eddery
Top jockeys
Year Jockey Wins
2002 Johnny Murtagh 4
2001 Johnny Murtagh 5
2000 Kieren Fallon 4
1999 Frankie Dettori 4
1998 Frankie Dettori 7
1997 Frankie Dettori 4
1996 Mick Kinane 5
1995 Mick Kinane 4
1994 Mick Kinane 4
1993 Pat Eddery 5
1992 Pat Eddery 4
Dettori aims for Royal record
Godolphin's ever-ebullient pilot Frankie Dettori seeks to be toast of this year's Royal Ascot meeting given his promising book of rides for the five-day meeting starting here tomorrow.