With regular partner Joseph O’Brien unable to make the 123-pound weight
allocated to Camelot in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de
Triomphe, Frankie Dettori will take his 25th consecutive ride in Europe’s
end-of-season championship aboard the Group 1 Two Thousand Guineas, Group 1 Derby and G1
Irish Derby hero, trainer Aidan O’Brien confirmed via Twitter Wednesday.
Joseph O’Brien will instead ride St Nicholas Abbey, who is set to
carry 131 pounds in the €4 million event.
“It’s a shame Godolphin doesn’t have a
horse in the race, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Dettori said. “I was
standing by for Snow Fairy as Ryan (Moore) seemed set to ride Sea Moon, and what
has happened in the last two or three days has been unbelievable. Snow Fairy was
injured, Nathaniel is out and Joseph can’t do the weight on Camelot so the ride
became available.
“It’s an honor for me to ride the horse. I haven’t spoken to
Aidan yet, a low draw is key, but we’re not going to change his pattern of
racing. I’m sure Aidan will come out with a plan and we’ll hope for the best on
Sunday.”
Following the enforced absence of Nathaniel, Ballydoyle’s Imperial Monarch, who may instead point to
the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine, was the only other withdrawal as the
field was reduced to 16 in advance of Thursday’s €100,000 supplementary stage.
Possible additions to Sunday’s line-up include the Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club winner
Saonois, Group 1 Irish Oaks heroine
Great Heavens and Grade 1
Secretariat victor Bayrir.
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