Horse Racing
Frankie Dettori To Ride For Aidan O’Brien At Kentucky Downs On Saturday
Andy is a horse racing journalist and betting expert who specializes in trends and stats. With his long association with TrainersQuotes and FromTheStables, Andy has also built up solid contacts with some of the best stables in the UK. Has written for GeeGeez and bookmakers Matchbook and BetBright in the past too, plus was the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and Juicestorm. Has also appeared on betting podcasts for MatchBook and has featured in the popular Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide in the past. Andy's also ghost written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody and continues to have a monthly column in the Racing Ahead horse racing magazine. Now a regular on Sportscasting giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing - if there's a stat to be explored and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find a betting angle to use.
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Frankie Dettori, who is now based riding in the US, will team up with with top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien to ride three of his horses at Kentucky on Saturday.
Dettori Will Ride Three Horses For Aidan O’Brien at Kentucky Downs
Aidan O’Brien is no stranger to sending runners across the Atlantic to race in America and this Saturday (7th Sept) the Ballydoyle maestro is flying three runners across the pond to run at Kentucky Downs – and he’s booked a certain Frankie Dettori to ride them all.
The great news for all the European horse racing handlers at the moment is with Frankie Dettori postponing his retirement last season to ride in the US, these globetrotting stables have a familiar jockey to turn to.
Just like the Andrew Balding team did last weekend when sending over Bellum Justum to run in the Nashville Derby for King Power Racing – they booked 53 year-old Frankie Dettori to do the steering, and it was a decision that paid off with the pair scooping the jackpot £830,165.35 first prize (watch below).
Which Horses Will Frankie Dettori Ride For Aidan O’Brien At Kentucky Downs?
See below the three horses Frankie Dettori will ride for trainer Aidan O’Brien at Kentucky Downs on Saturday 7th September 2024.
In total, these contests will carry a total purse of $6,000,000 ($2m each race) – which includes $1m for each race from the KTDF, so there is plenty at stake
- Race 6: 8.27pm Ladies Marathon G3 – GREENFINCH
- Race 8: 9.41pm Mint Millions G3 – MOUNTAIN BEAR
- Raec 10: 10.55pm Kentucky Turf Cup G2 – CHIEF LITTLE ROCK
Note: All times are GMT (with US post times 6 hours behind)
Greenfinch (Ladies Marathon)
Well-bred Justify filly that has won two of her seven career starts – including last time out.
This latest success came in a Listed race at Killarney on July 17th over 1m (watch below) but is stepping back up in trip here to 1 5/16 miles.
Prior to that last win she also ran the useful Hanalia to /4 of a lengths when third in the Irish Oaks Trial at Naas in June – so getting this extra yardage should be within range.
In addition to Greenfinch, we could also see another European raider in this Kentucky Downs race with Newmarket-based Roger Varian also having Three Priests entered.
The Ladies’ Marathon is a race US trainer Brad Cox won last year and he’s trying again – this time with a horse called Chop Chop.
Mountain Bear (Mint Millions)
Another O’Brien horse with a top US breeding, with this colt being out of No Nay Never. He’s raced 12 times in his career, winning twice (Dundalk and Curragh), but he’s not tasted success yet this year.
Both career wins have come over 6f and 7f, so still has a bit to prove over this 1m trip but ran well over this distance last time out in the G3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown, when second and beaten just 1/2 a length.
The Mint Millions Stakes is also a race that went to a European trainer last season when the Charles Hills team sent over Ancient Rome to win (watch below) and this horse is also back to defend his title with Jamie Spencer booked to ride.
Of the US handlers, Wesley Ward, who many UK horse racing fans will be familiar with after his many Royal Ascot wins, and Michael Maker have won the race twice each and have entries again.
Ward runs Funtastic Again, while Michael Maker has Emmanuel and Tut’s Revenge.
Chief Little Rock (Kentucky Turf)
This Galileo colt will be racing for the eighth time in his career on Saturday and has only finished out of the first three once.
He’s recorded two wins over these races – one at Leopardstown in a Maiden last August and this season added to that with a win at the Curragh in the Group Three Gallinule Stakes in May (watch below).
The horse has, however, since run down the field in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot (12th of 14) so has a small bit to prove regarding the trip.
That said, his breeding suggests it’s worth another crack at this distance and in slightly calmer waters here and maybe with different riding tactics (led last time), could see it out better.
The Kentucky Turf Cup is another race US trainer Michael Maker has a top record in – winning five of the last nine – and he’s got another strong hand with Sugoi and Cathkin Peak.