Dettori to miss York after opting to ride in France this weekend

Horse Racing

Ashley Iveson
August 14, 2020 11:30 am

High-profile mounts at Deauville include Palace Pier in Prix Jacques le Marois.

Frankie Dettori is set to miss next week’s Ebor Festival at York after opting to ride in France this weekend.

The popular Italian was booked by trainer John Gosden to partner his French Derby hero Mishriff in Saturday’s Group Two Prix Guillaume D’Ornano at Deauville, and the unbeaten St James’s Palace Stakes winner Palace Pier in the Group One Prix Jacques le Marois the following afternoon.

Click Here For Exclusive MansionBet Promotion

A Government announcement late on Thursday evening revealed France was to join the UK’s quarantine list from 4am on Saturday following a spike in coronavirus cases, meaning anyone travelling back across the Channel after that time will need to quarantine for 14 days.

Palace Pier was one of the stars of Royal Ascot (Edward Whitaker/PA)

But Gosden has confirmed Dettori will still be in action at Deauville – meaning he will miss several high-profile rides on the Knavesmire next week, most notably Lord North in Wednesday’s Juddmonte International.

Gosden told the PA news agency: “Frankie will be riding in France – that is the intention, absolutely.

“It will mean he will miss York. These plans have been in place for a while – for Palace Pier since the St James’s Palace and for Mishriff since the Prix du Jockey Club.

Lord North will be ridden by James Doyle at York (Megan Ridgwell/PA)

“He (Dettori) would prefer to ride this weekend. It is far from ideal to miss York, but these are strange times that we live in.”

In Dettori’s absence, Gosden hopes James Doyle will maintain his partnership with Lord North at York, having steered him to victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

“I’m hoping James Doyle will be available,” Gosden added.