Frankie Dettori heading to Japan for the first time in five years as he teams up with old Coolmore pal for HUGE ride
FRANKIE DETTORI will head to Japan for the first time in five years in search of the thick end of the £330,000 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
The Italian legend will team up with his old pal, the New York-based Joseph Lee, to hop onboard May Day Ready.
The two-year-old filly proved she was the best Northern America had to offer when finishing behind Aidan O’Brien’s Lake Victoria at the Breeders’ Cup last earlier this month.
And until the Del Mar showpiece, she was unbeaten in all her three races, which included a Listed and Grade 2 contest.
Her talents have persuaded Dettori, who has been based in the US for a year, to up sticks and head to Japan for December.
Announcing his plan on X, Lee wrote: “After discussing May Day Ready’s future with Mr and Mrs Doyle and George Barnes, the decision has officially been made to ship her to Japan to run her in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on December 8.”
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May Day Ready is one of five horses trained in New York by Lee, who is having his best season since he re-started training four years ago.
Dettori has ridden Lee’s filly in every one of her starts, but the pair’s relationship goes back to the days Lee worked as a Godolphin assistant.
Lee said: “Having been fortunate to have travelled to Japan numerous times over the years with Godolphin, this time will be different, as I return as a trainer.
“We are thrilled and fortunate to have the opportunity to take such a talented filly to Japan.”
Lee is no stranger to the Japanese racing scene. He spent ten years there working for his father-in-law, the now-retired trainer Takemi Kaga.
His chosen jock is also familiar with the lay of the land there. He’s ridden 16 winners there already, including three in the Japan Cup on Singspiel in 1996, Falbrav in 2002 and Alkaased in 2005.
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