FRANKIE’S FIRST LOOK AT HAZAPOUR
FRANKIE DETTORI flew to Ireland last night and will have a first sit on Aga Khan-owned Hazapour this morning, his Dermot Weld-trained mount in Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
The Italian, riding in the Classic for the 23rd time and chasing his third win, also revealed he would liaise with Weld’s sidelined stable jockey Pat Smullen in advance of the £1.5million race.
Nine-time Irish champion Smullen, who won the 2016 Derby on Hazapour’s uncle Harzand, is taking time out for chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with a tumour on his pancreas.
Smullen attended last weekend’s Irish Guineas meeting at the Curragh, where he said he was going into the Weld stable between treatment to help with advice.
Dettori said: ‘I have spoken to Pat a couple of times and just sent him a text. I will see him in the morning and, once the draw and final declarations come out, I will have another chat with him.
‘I wanted to sit on Hazapour. The Derby is the most important race in the calendar. It is about getting to know the horse himself.
‘It is important you get to know his character and get a feel of his demeanour and personality, so I can start thinking in my mind how to approach the race.’
Dettori finished second on Photographer, his only mount at Leicester yesterday. He will not race again until Friday, when his mounts include Cracksman in the Coronation Cup.
He has yet to pick up a ride in Friday’s Investec Oaks after Lah Ti Dar, the favourite he was due to ride, was scratched. Hazapour staked his Derby claim when beating Aidan O’Brien pair Delano Roosevelt and The Pentagon in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown.
Newmarket trainer John Gosden, Dettori’s boss who is represented by Oisin Murphy-ridden Dante Stakes winner Roaring Lion, also has Sevenna Star in the 14 Derby possibles.
But he will only run in the unlikely event of very soft ground and Dettori said he would not be required to switch mounts if the winner of the Sandown Classic Trial did start at Epsom.
The Derby betting is headed by odds-on favourite and 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior.
James Doyle rides William Haggastrained Chester Vase winner Young Rascal with champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa booked for Mark Johnston’s Chester Vase runner-up Dee Ex Bee.