Dermot Weld has booked the services of two-time Derby winner Frankie Dettori for his colt Hazapour’s tilt at the Epsom Classic on Saturday week.
The son of Sharmadal stepped up markedly on his two-year-old form when winning the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown in the style of a nice one.
The colt comes from the same family as Weld’s Harzand and the genuine fashion with which he won his trial were reminiscent of that one’s 2016 win in the race.
That performance has seen him move into the place of fourth favourite in the betting at 14-1, closely followed by one of the two A.P O’Brien sorts he beat at the South Dublin track that day, Delano Roosevelt, with the third on the day, The Pentagon, out at 20s.
It’s another one from that most dominant of yards that heads the betting, with impressive 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior well odds-on at 4/6. He’s a chunk clear on ratings from all of the rest of the field, the Weld runner included, but this one took his trial in fine style himself and is entitled to take his place at Epsom with the prospect of further improvement to come.
The County Kildare-based trainer will employ the Italian-born rider, 47, who last won the race in 2015 on Golden Horn and knows the contours of the track better than most, in his efforts at giving the Aga Khan-bred runner the best possible chance of overturning the odds-on fav and Triple Crown hope.
He’ll take rides on the favourites for both the Oaks, on Lah Ti Dar and the Coronation Cup on Cracksman at Epsom, too, and so has a trio of Group 1 contests to aim toward in the coming days.
His agent, Ray Cochrane, said of this latest booking: “I can confirm Frankie rides Mr Weld's horse in the Derby.
"It's a great ride to get. He looked really impressive in winning the Derrinstown, which is always the best trial in Ireland.”