York | Horse Racing Free Tips

Derby Winner Desert Crown On Course For Juddmonte International

Dual Group 1 winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won the Derby and King George in 2022, emerged from his Wednesday gallop in good order and is on target for the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 2.

“Desert Crown worked this morning, he worked nicely and everybody was happy with him,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail. “He's not a great worker, as has been stated before, but everyone was very happy with him this morning and everything went as well as expected.”

The Sir Michael Stoute trainee was due to run in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot, but was forced to miss the race due to a leg infection. Missing since last year's King George with an ankle injury, the 4-year-old finished second to subsequent King George hero Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. on May 25.

Added Raymond of the work, “William [Buick] didn't ride him. Ryan Moore rode him this morning. He's ridden him a lot of times at home and Sir Michael just sometimes likes a different opinion.

“One thing I can definitely tell you is this horse needed it badly at Sandown, it wasn't said at the time but Michael was quite surprised how much he was blowing afterwards. He had worked on the grass but nowhere near as much as we would have liked as it kept on pouring down.

“We're looking forward to next week. He's got to go somewhere and when you are in his class, there are only certain races you can run in.”

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Dettori High on Mostahdaf for Juddmonte International

Jockey Frankie Dettori expects Shadwell's G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to offer a significant challenge to Westerberg, Brant and Coolmore's four-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) when the pair meet up in next week's G1 Juddmonte International at York, the rider told Nick Luck on the presenter's Daily Podcast Monday.

Dettori is deputising for regular jockey Jim Crowley, who will be sidelined while suspended for his winning ride aboard Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. on July 29.

“I rode him the other morning and he is a beautiful specimen of a horse,” Dettori said of Mostahdaf. “He's strong and has got a lovely stride. He doesn't overdo himself in the mornings, but we know exactly what he can do and I'm excited. What he did in the [June 21] Prince of Wales's, I was pretty taken, so he's going to be there with every chance.”

And while confident in the John and Thady Gosden-trained 5-year-old, the veteran reinsman indicated his utmost respect Ballydole's stable star, who is riding a six-race win skein into the 1 5/16-mile event.

“He's a good horse,” Dettori said. “The [Aug. 2] Sussex was a non-event, but Paddington is still–he put Chaldean to bed in the [June 20] St James's Palace, when I was second, in good style and he beat Emily [Upjohn] (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), so he is the best 3-year-old around at the moment.

“But I think this is his test now, he's taking on a four-length winner of the Prince of Wales's. It's going to be a different race to what he's faced (before), but I have no doubt he is a good horse because it looks like he only does what he has to do and he looks like he's still got something in the locker.

“We will give him a race and see what happens.”

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Dettori To Ride Mostahdaf in Juddmonte International

Jockey Frankie Dettori will be aboard the John and Thady Gosden-trained G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) for the G1 Juddmonte International at York over the Knavesmire on Aug. 23, Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold announced on Saturday. The veteran rider deputises for the 5-year-old's regular jockey, Jim Crowley, who was suspended for his winning ride aboard Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 29.

“John put Frankie on him this morning and said 'I think Frankie's the man', so he will ride him at York,” Gold said. “He had a sit on him this morning and seemed very happy with the horse. We'll try and keep him in one piece and then they'll both be reunited at York.”

Though Dettori has not regularly ridden for the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell recently, he has worn the distinctive blue and white silks to victory on the international stage a number of times. Dettori is set to hang up his tack at the end of this year.

“He obviously won on Sakhee (Bahri) back in the day and more recently I remember him winning the [G3] Greenham at Newbury on Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) [in 2015],” Gold said. “He's ridden plenty for us over the years and it will be very nice to hopefully give him a decent ride in his final year.”

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Azure Blue To Take On Highfield Princess In Nunthorpe

Azure Blue (Ire) (El Kabeir), who bested Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the G2 Duke Of York S. in May, will square off again with that multiple Group 1 winner in York's G1 Nunthorpe S. on Aug. 25, trainer Michael Dods confirmed on Friday.

A listed winner last October, the 4-year-old claimed the Listed Ellen Chaloner S. at Newmarket at the beginning of May before her group heroics. She was sixth in the G1 July Cup S. at Newmarket, but is reportedly doing well.

“At the moment we're thinking of going to York and the Nunthorpe,” said Dods, who has won the Knavesmire feature three times with Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in 2015/2016 and Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in 2018.

“We're pulling her back a furlong and it will be very competitive if the 2-year-olds come in and also Highfield Princess was so impressive at Goodwood.

“We had had a run and Highfield had not when we met before and she's obviously come on a lot from then. But it is the obvious race and at the moment the plan is to go there.”

The five-furlong Group 1 is new territory for the filly, who has raced at six furlongs or farther in every other start to date.

“We're travelling into the unknown,” Dods acknowledged. “They will go a hard gallop and hopefully she will be fine. We're looking forward to it and at the minute it is all systems go.”

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