Cazoo Derby: Frankie Dettori snapped up to ride leading contender Piz Badile

Frankie Dettori will ride Piz Badile in next month’s Cazoo Derby, Alan Cooper, racing manager to owners the Niarchos family, has told the Racing Post.

Piz Badile, a general 10-1 shot for the June 4 Classic, has been ridden by Gavin Ryan on his first three starts, but connections have moved early to secure the services of two-time Derby winner Dettori.

Cooper said: "Piz Badile will be ridden by Frankie Dettori in the Derby and we're all looking forward to June 4."

Cazoo Derby (4.30 Epsom, June 4): full racecard and betting

Trained by Donnacha O'Brien, Piz Badile was last seen winning the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last month.

Piz Badile (far side): pipped Buckaroo to win the Ballysax at LeopardstownCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Legendary 51-year-old jockey Dettori won his first Derby on Authorized in 2007 and doubled his tally with Golden Horn eight years later. He plans to have a sit on his Derby mount in the coming weeks before the pair team up in competition for the first time at Epsom.

Speaking after Cooper revealed the booking, Dettori said: "I got the call and he's a very exciting horse. He comes into the Derby with a good profile and he's a lovely ride to have.

Derby hopeful Piz Badile 'has all the right attributes', says Donnacha O'Brien

“I've known the Niarchos family for a long time and I was pleased to get the call. I'm looking forward to sitting on him, maybe sometime next week and then it's on to Epsom."

O’Brien, who started training in January 2020 after quitting the saddle aged 21 but has yet to run have a runner at Epsom, teamed up twice with Dettori in Britain last season when Unconquerable finished third in the Royal Lodge Stakes and was narrowly denied by a head in second in the Zetland Stakes.

Dettori is no stranger to riding for the Niarchos family in the Derby, having partnered Circus Maximus to finish sixth in the race in 2019. He rode John Leeper last year for Ed Dunlop, finishing ninth.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Desert Crown heads the ante-post market for the Derby as a general 2-1 favourite following his impressive win in last week's Dante Stakes at York, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained trial winners Stone Age and Changingoftheguard next in the betting ahead of Piz Badile.

Cazoo Derby

Paddy Power: 2-1 Desert Crown, 3 Stone Age, 8 Changingoftheguard, 10 Piz Badile, 12 Star Of India, 14 United Nations, 16 bar

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