Jockey Frankie Dettori, cleared by France Galop on Thursday
to resume riding, will guide Team Valor International’s First
Cornerstone in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly on Sunday.
Team Valor and trainer Andy Oliver offered the mount to
Dettori on Wednesday if he were to receive clearance. The long-time Godolphin
stable jockey has won the French Derby three times, including Shamardal’s neck
victory in 2005 over Hurricane Run, the sire of First Cornerstone.
“We are very pleased to have Frankie ride First
Cornerstone,” Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. “He’s a world-class rider, and he
knows how to win this race.”
First Cornerstone finished fifth in the Irish Two Thousand
Guineas on Saturday at the Curragh in his first start of the year after his season
was delayed by a respiratory ailment.
Winner of the Futurity going seven
furlongs last August in his first start with Team Valor, First Cornerstone was
considered for Saturday’s 1 1/2-mile Epsom Derby until Oliver and Irwin
decided on Wednesday to opt for the French equivalent at 10 1/2 furlongs.
“Coming back in a week, we think the shorter distance will
be better for First Cornerstone,” Irwin explained.
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