Dettori Heads To Killarney For First Time

Dettori Heads To Killarney For First Time

Frankie Dettori will head to the Killarney Festival in Ireland, to get the leg-up on his first four rides ever at the course on Wednesday evening.

The world's most famous jockey will join up with Derby-winning trainer Dermot Weld twice midweek, with Time Tunnel in the maiden and Mujid half-an-hour later.

Weld - who trained Harzand to victory in the Epsom Classic back in 2016 launched an abundance of praise for officials at the course, for managing to persuade the loveable Italian to break his duck at the County Kerry venue.

Both jockey and trainer combined with a win on Eclipse Day at Sandown almost a fortnight ago, when Falcon Eight prevailed by the narrowest of margins in the Coral Marathon.

(Credit: Racing Post) Weld said: "Sure, Frankie has to be up there with the all-time greats and he gave Falcon Eight the most superb ride for me at Sandown.

"He was brilliant on him. I've known for a while that he was coming to Killarney and I really wanted to support the initiative."

"In this day and age of media rights money for pictures, it is wonderful to see an executive from a racecourse come up with an idea like this and great credit must go to Killarney for getting Frankie to come.

"It's fantastic and I wanted to get 100 per cent behind it."

The 48-year-old jockey has only ever ridden at the Curragh and Leopardstown to-date, but also featured at now shut tracks - Phoenix Park and Tralee back in the 1990's.

Dettori was optimistic over his new venture this week.

(Credit: Racing Post) He said: "Killarney asked me about three weeks ago and were very keen for me to go. I looked at the calendar and, as this was a quiet week, I thought I'd go as I like new challenges.

"Years back I went to Tralee where I was given a hero's welcome so hopefully it will be a good night. I think Lester rode there many years ago and rode three winners so I'm a bit under pressure.

"All I know of the track is what Mick Kinane and the old boys have told me, but hopefully it will ride well. I plan to fly back on Thursday to ride at Nottingham on Friday and then return for Star Catcher at the Curragh on Saturday."

Fozzy Stack also nabbed Dettori to ride Lady Wannabe in the feature race - the Listed Cairn Rouge Stakes over a mile at 7:30.

The trainer heaped praise on the Italian's achievements so far this season.

He said: "Frankie is arguably the the best jockey in the world so there is not much point in him hanging around in the weighing room while there is a race on."  

Dettori will complete his visit when climbing aboard likely favourite Finding Nero for former weighing-room colleague Johnny Murtagh, in the eleven furlong handicap at 8.30.