Dettori tips his cap to HK
Superstar jockey Frankie Dettori is prepared to do a Hong Kong winter stint of one month if a demanding British season leaves him fit enough for the job.
'I have spoken to Philip Johnston [director of racing] and it is really quite simple. I like coming to Hong Kong but you know how much travelling I have to do in a British season.
'When it comes to the end of the season, I must have a break. To get the batteries recharged, if you like,' said the brilliant Italian-born rider who wowed Sha Tin with a magnificent winning double yesterday.
British champion jockey Dettori took the $4.5 million Queen Elizabeth II Cup on 5-2 favourite Overbury and gave a thrilling display on Tollway (3-1 favourite) in the final event. Under a dazzling ride, Tollway got up in the final stride to short-head bottomweight Our Champion.
Dettori had to opt out of a three-month contract last winter because of pressure of commitments in Britain and Dubai but said after his reception from the 50,000 Sha Tin crowd: 'It's a great place to ride in. Anyone who doesn't want to come and ride in Hong Kong isn't alive.' Guaranteed to be back in Hong Kong in December for the International Races and for the QEII Cup next April are the all-conquering Godolphin stable.
Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, whose horses captured four Classics in Europe last season, confirmed that Hong Kong was very much a target for Godolphin horses.
'We like to go for most of the big races in the world and the Hong Kong International Races are on the calendar. So, too, is this Queen Elizabeth II Cup because it is at exactly the right time for us.' Bin Suroor said that yesterday's QEII Cup success had been planned some months in advance.
'It was the perfect race for Overbury and we set him for it some time ago. That is another reason why we like Hong Kong. We know when the races are and we know the type of horse that it takes to win them.
'We will be represented in December although I do not know yet what horses we would want to send.'
