Dettori Booked to Ride Snowfall in Prix Vermeille
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Frankie Dettori guides Snowfall to a 16-length victory in the Oaks at Epsom Downs
Frankie Dettori is in line for a major call-up to ride Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) favorite Snowfall in the Sept. 12 Prix Vermeille (G1) at ParisLongchamp, with Ryan Moore expected to remain at the Longines Irish Champions Weekend for a stellar book of rides.
Aidan O'Brien has stressed that riding arrangements could change, but provisional plans for Sunday indicate Dettori will travel to France, where the Ballydoyle trainer is also planning on running beaten Cazoo Derby (G1) favorite Bolshoi Ballet in the Qatar Prix Niel (G2).
It would be the second time the legendary rider has partnered the dual classic star, having been aboard for Snowfall's sensational 16-length romp in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) at Epsom in June.
Speaking to the Racing Post on Wednesday, O'Brien said: "Plans can obviously change, but at the moment it looks like Frankie will be going to France. I don't know yet who he'll be riding for us in the St. Leger (G1), but it is the plan for him to do that.
"At the moment it's looking like Ryan will stay in Ireland for both days of Irish Champions Weekend unless something changes."
Frankie Dettori shares a moment with Snowfall after their Oaks victory at Epsom Downs
It promises to be a bumper feast of high-class action across Ireland, Britain, and France for O'Brien, with running plans for his group 1 candidates yet to be finalized.
Declarations for day one of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and the Cazoo St. Leger are due on Thursday morning, with Moore potentially having the likes of Mother Earth , St Mark's Basilica , Innisfree , and Bluegrass to look forward to in the group action at Leopardstown.
Unbeaten juvenile Point Lonsdale will fly the flag for the Moore-O'Brien-Coolmore axis on the second day at the Curragh in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1).
Snowfall was one of five Ballydoyle fillies left in the mix for Sunday's top-level assignment at Longchamp, alongside Love , who is also entered in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) and Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes (G2), and Prix de Diane Longines (G1) heroine Joan of Arc , who also has entries in the Irish Champion and the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes (G1).
O'Brien said of the current 9-4 favorite for Arc glory: "Everything has gone well for Snowfall since last time at York (winning the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, G1). She did very well from the Curragh to York and we've been happy with her since—that's why we felt she'd take another run in between."
Bolshoi Ballet returned with a nasty cut just off a tendon following his disappointing Epsom effort—with O'Brien describing him as "very sore" the morning after—but he soon got back in the winning groove when landing the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) in July.
Bolshoi Ballet wins the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park
Having seemingly been unsuited by the drop to 1 3/16 miles when a well-held fourth in the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) since then, the Galileo colt now steps back up to 12 furlongs for the first time since the Derby.
"He'll probably go to France," said O'Brien of the 3-year-old, who is also entered in the Irish Champion on Saturday.
"It'll be a step back up to this trip for the first time since the Derby so we're going to find out a lot."
One talented 3-year-old who will miss the biggest weekend in Irish flat racing is Wordsworth , who was absent from the Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (G1) after Tuesday's forfeit stage.
"He got a little injury and will be off for a while so he won't be back for a couple of months," said O'Brien. "We'll be hoping that he can come back again as a 4-year-old."
Exciting Killarney maiden winner Luxembourg was another absentee from the weekend entries, but O'Brien says the possible 2022 Derby contender is being aimed towards the Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (G2) on Sept. 25.