Epsom, United Kingdom - Frankie Dettori, who finally broke his Epsom Derby jinx in 2007 with Authorized, could well be celebrating a second success in the Epsom classic on Saturday on the firm favourite Golden Horn.
The John Gosden-trained colt shot to the head of the Derby's ante-post betting on the strength of a compelling victory in one of the key warm-up events, the Dante at York last month.
That performance, with one of his main rivals, Gosden's second runner Jack Hobbs in his slipstream, was two-and-a-half furlongs shy of Saturday's trip, but Dettori is convinced his mount's stamina won't be found wanting.
"The same question keeps coming up. Will he stay? My gut feeling says yes, so it's fingers crossed now as his preparation has gone well," the Italian having his first Derby ride since 2011 told At The Races this week.
Interestingly Dettori was on board Jack Hobbs in the Dante, and so has a decent idea of Golden Horn's prospects.
"I'm scared of Jack Hobbs, the horse has improved since the Dante and he stays well.
"The Derby is the Derby but my horse won the best trial and won it convincingly. I have lots of faith in the horse."
Resurgent Dettori, who since his last Derby ride was sacked by Godolphin and banned for drugs, is facing sleep deprivation in the run-up to Saturday.
"It brings back those memories of 2007 (Authorized's Derby success) when I didn't sleep for two weeks, so you can imagine how I feel right now."
Gosden like Dettori has claimed the turf's blue riband on one occasion, with Benny The Dip back in 1997.
The duo's prospects of hitting the classic bulls eye for a second time were enhanced by the unfortunate absence of ante-post third favourite Zawraq.
Dermot Weld's budding star came through his last piece of work in style but had to be scratched from calculations after pulling up lame.
AFP
