Frankie Dettori can look towards Guineas weekend with a positive feeling after the performance of Sandiva to win the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket.
Starting his first full season as the retained jockey of Sheikh Joaan’s Al Shaqab Racing, Dettori has many horses to choose between on both sides of the English Channel.
He treated the crowd at Newmarket to a flying dismount, demonstrating his broken ankle from last October had firmly healed.
Trained by Richard Fahey, Sandiva closed strongly to finish half a length ahead of Euro Charline and Majeyda when plenty went against her.
“I’ve got about 35 unraced three-year-olds to ride and there’s a lot of travelling, but I’m enjoying it,” Dettori said.
“Where she was drawn (four) was a disadvantage and there was no cover, so it was a good performance.”
Sandiva is still as big as 25-1 with some bookmakers for the main event and could be joined by the Marco Botti-trained Euro Charline.
Barry Irwin, who runs the owning Team Valor syndicate, said a decision had not yet been made on the Guineas.
“Marco wants me to supplement her for the Guineas.
“I will think about it but she is also in the Irish Guineas, so we will see.”
Godolphin’s True Story showed he could be a Derby contender with his seven length win over 15-8 favourite Obliterate in the Feilden Stakes at the Newmarket meeting.
Now just 14-1 for Epsom with Ladbrokes and Coral, the son of Manduro will take in a Derby trial.
“I think a mile and a half will be his best trip and he will go to the Dante at York, or Lingfield,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said.
“For the future, I think he is a Derby horse.”
