Cruz's confidence grows as Dettori answers SOS

Derby-loving Tony Cruz was full of confidence in Beauty Flash for Sunday's Group One Mercedes-Benz Hong Kong Derby after confirming yesterday that champion rider Frankie Dettori would be adding his brand of charisma to the day.

'Frankie is the best jockey around, he has won everything and we are very happy to have him on Beauty Flash,' Cruz said. 'Derby day is one of the biggest race days we have here and it adds to the atmosphere of the event to have somebody like him flying in to ride in it.'

The popular Italian will take over on one-time Derby favourite Beauty Flash after Christophe Soumillon was suspended for a whip-use offence in Dubai last Friday.

'I feel sorry for Christophe because I believe it's a bit unfair to suspend jockeys for that,' Cruz said. 'I had hoped he might appeal, but there are so many big races on and, as I understand it, Christophe might have missed the World Cup if he appealed.

'That's the richest race in the world so I can understand he doesn't want to miss out, but I don't think we will lose anything by having Frankie, that's for sure.'

Dettori has previously ridden a winner for Cruz, Aggressive Dragon on Queen Elizabeth II Cup day in 1997, and Beauty Flash will give him his best chance to win Hong Kong's favourite domestic event after he had previously finished seventh on 17-1 chance Helene Momentum in 2003 and ninth on 44-1 hope Golconda the season before.