'Terrific to have Dettori'

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE, could be set to have the services of Frankie Dettori.

Colt's trainer Halford delighted as the jockey prepares for Racing Post Trophy on Saturday

Frankie Dettori will ride Casamento in the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday and the Italian could be the colt's regular jockey when the horse switches to Godolphin.

The colt, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been supplemented for the Group 1 feature at Doncaster, England, in what could be his last race before being subsumed into the record-breaking Godolphin operation.

Michael Halford, his trainer, expressed his delight at having the Italian on board his Beresford Stakes winner but knows that Saturday's run could be his first Group 1 winner but also a parting of the ways.

Halford described Casamento as "the best horse I've had, by a long way" and he was given the thumbs up to go to Doncaster following a spin on the gallops and after all the routine health checks.

"We're happy with him and we've supplemented him [for £17,500, Dh101,250]," Halford said. "He's quite fit so we just wanted to see that he was well. We checked him out, checked his blood and had him scoped. He's fine. Frankie rides and it's terrific to have him."

Declan McDonogh was in the saddle when Casamento was just pipped by Pathfork in the National Stakes and he partners Dunboyne Express for Kevin Prendergast.

"They are pretty similar. Both are by Shamardal, show great heart and great toughness," he said.

"It's going to be a good race and both have got great chances. They are good two-year-olds."

Casamento was one of three horses supplemented for the race along with the Michael Dods-trained Dubawi Gold and Karam Albaari from the John Jenkins stable. Dunbyone Express was also among the 11 five-day confirmations while Aidan O'Brien is responsible for the three other Irish possibles.

The Ballydoyle trainer has left in Master Of Hounds, Seville and Treasure Beach. Ed Dunlop decided to bypass last weekend's Dewhurst Stakes with his unbeaten Solario Stakes winner Native Khan to wait for Doncaster.

Godolphin, meanwhile, are celebrating another record breaking year. Prince Bishop's triumph in the Group 2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp, France, on Sunday, was the Dubai-based team's 60th Stakes victory this year.

The previous best yearly tally for Stakes triumphs was 58, achieved in 2009.

The win was Price Bishop's fourth victory in a row.

* Agencies