Frankie Dettori will be back to ride in UAE

Frankie Dettori will ride in the UAE again and may even partner with Godolphin, among others, and it's game over for Game On Dude's jockey, Chantal Sutherland, writes Geoffrey Riddle.

The agent to Frankie Dettori says the jockey will be back to ride in Dubai and that there will be no shortage of opportunities for the jockey, perhaps even some with Godolphin again.

Frankie Dettori's split from Godolphin will not stop him from coming to the UAE to ride at the Dubai World Cup Carnival next year, his agent has said.

The Italian rider parted company with the Dubai-based operation on Sunday after it was mutually agreed that his reported seven-figure retainer of 18 years was "not really working".

Dettori has been a long-standing fixture in the UAE because of his association with the international stable of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

"Frankie will be going to Dubai this winter," Dettori's agent, Ray Cochrane, told The National.

"He is more than likely to ride for Godolphin, he just won't be retained by them. There are many other jockeys that ride for Godolphin that are not retained by them, and in Dubai as well."

Dettori has strong relationships with British trainers such as Brian Meehan, Jeremy Noseda and George Baker as well as John Gosden and Luca Cumani, all of whom could have horses running in Dubai next year.

"He rides for a lot of trainers here in Newmarket, and has links all over the world, so he won't go short of work," Cochrane said.

The decision to allow the 41-year-old rider to go freelance has set tongues wagging as to his likely future. Although he has been linked to the position as a retained jockey to both Pearl Bloodstock and Qatar Racing, David Redvers quickly to quashed any such speculation.

"We love Frankie and think he's fantastic," the racing manager to the Qatari owners said. "We are always happy for him to ride for us, but he will not be retained by us next year."

Jamie Spencer is set to be revealed as the first jockey to Pearl Bloodstock and Qatar Racing this week with Harry Bentley, who rode for Satish Seemar at Zabeel Stables last season, to be his understudy, though Redvers did not confirm those signings.

"Jamie Spencer is one of a number of jockeys we admire and like enormously, but I stress that no contract has yet been signed," Redvers added, in an interview with the Racing Post.

In turn this may leave the Dubai-based Hay family without a retained rider, although Spencer is still likely to partner Treasure Beach in the Breeders' Cup Turf in Santa Anita next weekend.

Spencer has ridden the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt on five of the past six occasions the four year old has run, including when second to Point Of Entry, the Breeders' Cup Turf favourite, in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational in September.

"I hope that Jamie will ride Treasure Beach at the Breeders' Cup," said Alex Cole, the racing manager to Jim and Fitri Hay.

"He knows the horse better than anybody, but it is something that needs to be sorted out with the O'Briens."

Spencer became the retained rider for the Hays in January 2010 and rode winners for them such as Fame And Glory at last year's Ascot Gold Cup as well as a hat-trick of Group 1 wins aboard Cape Blanco in the Man O'War Stakes, the Arlington Million and the Joe Hirsch.

IT'S GAME OVER FOR GAME ON DUDE'S CHANTAL SUTHERLAND

Chantal Sutherland, the first woman to ride in the Dubai World Cup, has retired at the age of 36.

The Canadian jockey rode her final race on Sunday for her father and then posted a long farewell message on her website.

Sutherland, who rode Game On Dude to 12th place in the world's most valuable race at Meydan Racecourse in March, has stopped riding to spend more time with her new husband, Dan Kruse.

"I've never really had weekends or holidays off, I've always spent so much time racing or focused and preparing for racing," Sutherland said. "Racing takes so much determination, guts, and sacrifice to be on top. I once craved, lived, and breathed racing. I can honestly say now, I'm ready to slow down and enjoy my life."

She won 931 races from 7,350 career starts and had purse earnings of US$47 million (Dh172.6m) according to Equibase.

Sutherland is best known for her association with Game On Dude, who she partnered to take the runner-up spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic last year behind her former fiance, Mike Smith, and Drosselmeyer.

The trainer Bob Baffert took the ride away from her after she dropped her reins in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August. Rafael Bejerano took back the ride, and promptly won the Awesome Again Stakes.

The five year old is now favourite for the Classic next weekend.

"It's a very emotional experience," she said.

"It's sad, but I feel good about the decision and the timing is right for me. I hope to be remembered as a very good jockey."

Elsewhere, Godolphin have retired It's Tricky, who was pencilled in for the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic.

She sustained a fractured ankle during a training gallop last week will start a new career at stud.

"She was a real star," said Kiaran McLaughlin, the trainer. "Even though she was tricky, she was a barn favourite."

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