Frankie Dettori | Horse Racing Free Tips

Atzeni Looking Forward to “Great Opportunity” Aboard Stradivarius

Andrea Atzeni has described being reunited with Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) as “a great opportunity” with the rider bidding to maintain his unbeaten record aboard John and Thady Gosden's charge at Goodwood next week.

Frankie Dettori has partnered Stradivarius to three G1 Gold Cup triumphs at Royal Ascot and has been the man aboard the star-stayer for the majority of his career. However, a decision was made by “mutual consent” to change things up in the saddle, with Atzeni the prime beneficiary.

“It's a great opportunity for me to get back on him. I had a sit on him and gave him a blowout on the Cambridge Road-he feels in good order and I'm looking forward to Tuesday,” Atzeni told Sky Sports Racing.

“I didn't have much to do with him at home when I rode him as a 3- and 4-year-old. I'd say he's not a flashy worker, he just gets the job done.

“He's been there and done it a million times, he knows the time of day but he seems well within himself.”

Atzeni added, “He's been solid all the way through. To keep a horse of his age, a full horse too, it's unbelievable what they've done with him.

“He owes us nothing, everyone connected with him, and hopefully he'll turn up on Tuesday and we'll see the Stradivarius we've seen in the past.”

Stradivarius will be bidding to win the G1 Goodwood Cup for a fourth time on Tuesday but faces stiff opposition from his Royal Ascot conqueror, the reigning Gold Cup hero, Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Atzeni was aboard Stradivarius for his first two victories in the Goodwood Cup but hasn't ridden the chestnut since they were successful in this race back in 2018.

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Atzeni To Replace Dettori On Stradivarius at Goodwood

Andrea Atzeni will take over from Frankie Dettori aboard Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in next week's Qatar Goodwood Cup, according to the legendary stayer's owner, Bjorn Nielsen.

Dettori came in for heavy criticism from Nielsen, who revealed to TDN Europe recently that the man who has partnered Stradivarius to three Gold Cup triumphs ignored instructions at Royal Ascot this year and last year by sitting too far off the pace.

Nielsen said, “What people don't know is what the riding instructions were. With what happened last year, twice where Frankie sat so far back and down on the rail, he was told, 'Whatever you do, don't sit on the rail and get far back on the horse this year.'

“For some reason, he went and did what he did [at Ascot last month]. By the time we had a chance to get out again, it was an impossible task to make up the ground. If you look at how he was travelling when they turned in and how the winner was travelling, the winner was being ridden strongly and so were some others.”

He added, “The Strad was sitting there on the bridle turning in and through no fault of his own he didn't get a run. It was not a case of the others having younger legs than him. It was a case of he got no run and he was put in a position where he had no chance, unfortunately.”

The John and Thady Gosden-trained 8-year-old has already won the Goodwood Cup four times, including under Atzeni in 2017 and 2018, and Neilsen decided to change things up in the saddle.

“Frankie Dettori, who has enjoyed a great relationship with Stradivarius and ridden him to many brilliant stakes victories, more than he has any other horse, will by mutual agreement give up the ride to Andrea Atzeni in the Goodwood Cup,” Nielsen told Racing TV.

“Frankie remains not only 'the Strad's' biggest fan but a very good friend and of course I look forward to seeing him continue his phenomenal career as one of the greatest big-race jockeys of all time.

“Andrea will be no stranger to Stradivarius as they are undefeated together, winning the 2017 and 2018 Goodwood Cups as well as the 2017 Queen's Vase.”

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Oaks Heroine Tuesday To Skip Irish Classic

Eight fillies will head postward for Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks following Thursday morning's confirmation of final declarations for the €500,000 Classic. The Co. Kildare venue will be denied the opportunity of a rematch between Epsom's G1 Oaks first and second, Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), with the former being the highest-profile absentee from the select field. Aidan O'Brien will instead rely on Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, who is set to partnered by Ryan Moore, Wayne Lordan's mount History (Ire) (Galileo {Ire} and the Seamus Heffernan-piloted Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). They have been allocated stalls six, seven and two, respectively. John and Thady Gosden trainee and 'TDN Rising Star' Emily Upjohn, who is rated an odds-on chance to regain her winning thread, will have Frankie Dettori in the plate and has drawn gate four. Zhang Yuesheng's G2 Ribblesdale S. victrix Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been drawn on the outside in gate eight.

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Star-Studded Line-up For Shergar Cup as Dettori Captains European Team

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has attracted a star-studded line-up with Frankie Dettori, Kerrin McEvoy and Hollie Doyle committed at this year's team event which takes place on Aug. 6 at Ascot.

There will be 10 nations represented across the four teams for the 21st renewal of the Shergar Cup with Dettori, the most successful jockey in Royal Ascot history of those who still hold a licence, captaining the European team.

Dettori, who will be making his 11th appearance at the Shergar Cup, said, “It's been a few years since I've ridden in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and I'm looking forward to it. I love Ascot and it's always a great day so I hope people put it in their diary and come along to have a good time and enjoy something a bit different.

“The European team looks really strong. I remember when we won it in 2014 it was a really special day and hopefully we can lift the trophy again this year.”

Dettori will be joined by compatriot Antonio Fresu as well as last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rene Piechulek from Germany and nine-times champion Spanish jockey Jose-Luis Martinez.

The Great Britain and Ireland team will be captained by Jamie Spencer, who is one of just a handful of jockeys to have ridden more than 2,000 winners, including 26 at Royal Ascot. He will have Danny Tudhope, who enjoyed an excellent Royal Ascot this year with four winners, Neil Callan and Kieran Shoemark alongside him.

The Ladies team, victorious last year for the third time, will once again be captained by Hayley Turner and she will be joined by last year's Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle winner Nicola Currie and multiple Royal Ascot winner Hollie Doyle. The side is completed by Canadian star Emma-Jayne Wilson, who has appeared at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup six times, including when on the winning side in 2015.

Turner said, “I love the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, it's always one of my favourite days of the year. It's great for the event to have lots of international riders travelling over for the day again and I'm excited to have Emma-Jayne back again on our team.

“Winning last year for the third time was really special as they let me keep the trophy which I've now got at home. The Ladies look strong again with Hollie and Nicola so hopefully. we can retain the crown and win the new trophy as well.”

The Rest of the World team features two of Japan's leading riders at the moment in Takeshi Yokoyama and French-born Christophe Lemaire who represents Japan as a JRA licensed jockey. They are joined by three-time Melbourne Cup winner Kerrin McEvoy from Australia and New Zealander Jason Collett, who has enjoyed a superb season in Sydney.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said, “This is an exciting year for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup which is breaking new ground with an extended race programme, more jockeys riding and more prize money on offer than ever before.

“In fact, with £500 available to the horses that finish 11th or 12th, and no entry fees, it is all upside for running in these unique races. Additionally, we will also have our stable bonus scheme in operation for the second time following the King George, with £20,000 going to the three leading trainers on the day and £5,000 to their staff.”

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