Frankie Dettori has chosen to ride Arrest instead of Royal Ascot winner Gregory in Saturday’s Betfred St Leger at Doncaster – his final ride in a British Classic.
Dettori looked certain to partner with the John and Tade Gosden-trained Gregory given the way he won the Queen’s Vase in June during the St Leger trip – but Kieran Shoemark will now step in for the breakthrough.
Gregory only lost his unbeaten record last time out when dropped to a mile and a half for the Great Voltigeur at York behind a rerun of persistent opposition.
However, recent rain at Doncaster has made the ground soft meaning Dettori will have a second chance at Classic glory over Gosdens’ Arrest, who have been sent off as favorites for the Derby but can only finish 10th on good to firm ground.
He was also disappointing on fast ground at Royal Ascot but was impressive on soft ground at Newbury against older horses at Geoffrey Frere last time out.
The Clarehaven stable also has an impressive third string in the Middle Earth complement (Oisin Murphy), a very impressive winner on the Melrose at York’s Ebor meeting.
The King and Queen have a real live opportunity to taste success in a classic British race with the William Haggs-trained Desert Champion, himself a Royal Ascot winner, albeit in handicap company in the King George V Stakes.
He then won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, narrowly beating Simon and Ed Crisford’s Chesspiece and the two would lock horns again.
Aidan O’Brien runs four races, the winner of the Great Voltigeur Continious, Alexandroupolis, Denmark and the Tower of London meaning there are no withdrawals in the 48 hour stage.
