'For me he was the eyecatcher' - Passenger the Derby standout for Dettori but Arrest has 'a live chance'

Frankie Dettori, the two-time Derby-winning jockey, has named the horse he expects to win racing's most important Classic – and he is not even entered.

The 52-year-old Dettori, who was at Epsom on Monday morning to give his Derby mount Arrest a taste of Tattenham Corner, said the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Dante third Passenger was the horse who stood out for him in the trials for the Betfred-sponsored Classic.

Asked who had impressed him most, Dettori was adamant: "Passenger in the Dante, and he's not even in it [the Derby]."

Dettori, however, expects the Niarchos family will find it impossible to resist the temptation to add the Ulysses colt to the field at the May 29 supplementary stage, despite the £85,000 cost, and added: "I'm sure [he will be added], but I'm not the owner. For me he was the eyecatcher of the Derby trials."

Dettori was still sweet on the prospects of Chester Vase winner Arrest, describing him as a "live chance" as he gears up for his last crack at Derby glory.

"It's a lot of lasts," he said of his farewell tour. "I went to Rome yesterday and it was my last Derby there, the deputy prime minister gave me a plaque to congratulate me on my career. Now it's my last Derby and I have a live chance. It looks a wide-open race. No horse has really dominated any of the trials. No-one's won by five lengths. It looks a competitive and open Derby."

The Derby has brought Dettori more frustration than joy and it took him until his 15th attempt in 2007 to finally win the race aboard Authorized – a feat he repeated on Golden Horn in 2015 – and he added: "Yes, it's a bit like AP [McCoy] with the Grand National [who finally won it at his 15th attempt].

"I'm very fortunate I've won two and it's still the most famous race in the world for us. When you start you want to ride in it, then you want to win it. This is my last shot, I've had over 20 rides in it and won it twice. At least I'm going into my last year with a great chance."

Arrest (right), ridden by Frankie Dettori goes past his lead horse in the home straight at EpsomCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dettori would not, however, compare the 13-2 third choice of the bookmakers to his two previous winners of the race. He said: "We always thought a bit of him last year, but he was all frame and no muscle. He's done great in the winter, his homework's been good, Chester was great. Sometimes horses from two to three, they don't develop, but he has.

"It's funny, even when I rode Golden Horn, at this stage, every week they improve. We've still got two weeks to go and I suspect after this gallop he'll come on a bit. It's very hard to assess from one year to the next but I'm very pleased, he looks great, he's done well this morning and we're in with a shot."

Dettori reported the Juddmonte son of Frankel took a bit of time to get himself organised when he met the cambered home straight during the morning workout at Epsom.

He said: "It's all about him getting used to the most crucial part, Tattenham Corner, that's where you can win and lose your race. He went around there fine and in the straight it took him a furlong to get organised, but then he went very straight and I was very happy with him. At this stage he's my Epsom Derby ride. It all went well and we're all pleased."

Dettori is also likely to partner runaway Musidora winner Soul Sister in the Betfred Oaks a day earlier. He said: "John [Gosden] kept on believing in her [after disappointing at Newbury]. The ground was heavy and John's horses at the time were not running that well, but she took me by surprise.

"She quickened twice, she travelled and she clocked a very good time. I was impressed. She's got to go another two furlongs, but all the signs are good. The O'Brien filly [Savethelastdance] who won at Chester by 22 lengths looks quite hard to beat, but we're going to give it a go."

Betfred Derby (Epsom, June 3)

Ladbrokes: 100-30 Military Order, 9-2 Auguste Rodin, 6 Arrest, 7 Passenger, 10 The Foxes, 12 Sprewell, 14 Waipiro, White Birch, 16 Dubai Mile, 20 bar

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