Dettori's outstanding Ascot record lands him plum ride on Desert Crown

Frankie Dettori’s outstanding Ascot record lands him plum ride on Desert Crown in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes as jockey replaces Richard Kingscote at the royal meeting

  • Desert Crown owner Saaed Suhail has earmarked Dettori to replace Kingscote
  • The 52-year-old will ride the Derby-winner at his last Royal Ascot before retiring
  • The four-year-old was beaten in his first race since Epsom in late May

The magnitude of Frankie Dettori’s Ascot record has proved irresistible to owner Saaed Suhail, who has replaced Richard Kingscote with the Italian aboard Desert Crown in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the royal meeting.

Kingscote won the Derby on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old last season, but the colt was beaten by Hukum on his first run since Epsom in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.

With Dettori available, Suhail has decided to snap up his services in what will be the Italian’s last ever Royal Ascot ahead of his retirement later this year.

Suhail’s racing manager Bruce Raymond told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast: ‘He (Suhail) just feels that for Desert Crown to win this race is all-important and, while Frankie is around, he wants to give the horse every chance.

‘He believes Frankie is unbeatable around Ascot and that is why. It’s no disgrace for Richard at all. I myself was jocked off Carroll House when he won the Arc.’

Jockey Frankie Dettori will replace Richard Kingscote on Desert Crown at Royal Ascot 

Kingscote won the Derby on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old last season

Kingscote could well be in opposition, with Desert Crown’s top-class stablemate Bay Bridge among his potential rivals a week on Wednesday.

Raymond added: ‘It happens, it’s not the end of the world and obviously Richard will be hoping he can beat him on the other horse (Bay Bridge).

‘I’m sure Richard will be riding (when Dettori is not available). Obviously, Ryan Moore is Sir Michael’s No 1 jockey if he can get him but he’s going to be unavailable in most of the big races.

‘It’s better to have a jockey you know riding the horse than anybody else, so I’m sure he (Kingscote) will be back on the horse should Frankie not be able to ride for any reason.

‘He’s a very good horse and I think he’ll go forward into a lot of good races — with Richard on him, hopefully.’

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