Horse Racing: Dettori bids to end winless English Derby run on favorite Authorized
LONDON (AP) -- Frankie Dettori looks to have his best chance of winning the $2.4 million English Derby on favorite Authorized.
The Italian jockey, who once won all seven races at an Ascot meet, has never had a Derby win in 14 attempts. He has 11 victories in the four other Classics, and hopes to add the Derby title Saturday in the 1 1/2 - mile race at Epsom.
Dettori's best finish was second on Lamtarra 12 years ago, despite riding some of the better 3-year-old colts.
Authorized, the 4-5 favorite with most British bookmakers, will run on soft ground after several days of rain. The last time an odds-on favorite won the race was Shergar in 1981.
Dettori usually rides for Godolphin Racing, but he'll go with Peter Chapple-Hyam's Authorized after winning the Dante Stakes with him last month.
Aqaleem, with Richard Hills aboard, won the Derby Trial at Lingfield and is the 8-1 second favorite. Then comes Archipenko, one of eight colts in the field trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien.
The field was reduced to 18 Friday when Arabian Gulf was pulled by trainer Michael Stoute because of a leg infection.
In the English Oaks on Friday, Light Shift held off Peeping Fawn in the final stages, giving trainer Henry Cecil his eighth victory in the classic for fillies.
With Ted Durcan aboard, the 13-2 shot took the lead 400 yards from home in the 1 1/2 -mile race and moved three lengths in front.
But Peeping Fawn, ridden by Martin Dwyer, made a charge and got within a half-length before Light Shift held on. All My Loving finished third.
Authorized, the 4-5 favorite with most British bookmakers, will run on soft ground after several days of rain. The last time an odds-on favorite won the race was Shergar in 1981.
Dettori usually rides for Godolphin Racing, but he'll go with Peter Chapple-Hyam's Authorized after winning the Dante Stakes with him last month.
Aqaleem, with Richard Hills aboard, won the Derby Trial at Lingfield and is the 8-1 second favorite. Then comes Archipenko, one of eight colts in the field trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien.
The field was reduced to 18 Friday when Arabian Gulf was pulled by trainer Michael Stoute because of a leg infection.
In the English Oaks on Friday, Light Shift held off Peeping Fawn in the final stages, giving trainer Henry Cecil his eighth victory in the classic for fillies.
With Ted Durcan aboard, the 13-2 shot took the lead 400 yards from home in the 1 1/2 -mile race and moved three lengths in front.
But Peeping Fawn, ridden by Martin Dwyer, made a charge and got within a half-length before Light Shift held on. All My Loving finished third.
