Racing superpowers Aidan O’Brien and Frankie Dettori teaming up on valuable card at Kentucky Downs

Saturday’s valuable Kentucky Downs card features plenty of figures well known to British and Irish racing fans, although the headline attractions are Aidan O’Brien and Frankie Dettori.

The duo are linking up with three horses across the raceday, starting with Greenfinch in the Light & Wonder Ladies Marathon Stakes (8.27).

The three-year-old gets weight from her elders and is coming into this assignment fresh from an impressive success in the Cairn Rouge Stakes at Killarney.

By Justify out of the four-time Group 1 winner Misty For Me, she is a half-sister to the 2017 Dewhurst Stakes winner U S Navy Flag, making her one of the best-bred horses on the day.

Dettori will then get the leg up on Mountain Bear in the Mint Millions Stakes (9.41). Like Greenfinch, he benefits from a weight-for-age allowance and his run in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Haatem and Kikkuli looks like good form.

O’Brien and Dettori’s partnership finishes with Chief Little Rock in the FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (10.55).

The three-year-old son of Galileo underperformed when 12th of 14 in the King Edward VII Stakes, but having won the Gallinule Stakes in May and finished behind both Bellum Justum and Ancient Wisdom, it’s clear to see why he is vying for favouritism.

Roger Varian sends Three Priests to Kentucky DownsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Newmarket trainer Roger Varian will also have a runner on the card when Three Priests takes on Greenfinch in the Ladies Marathon Stakes.

“I think she’ll run well,” said Varian. “Although she’s five, she’s improving and the form of her fourth in the Pontefract Castle reads very well. The fifth [Scenic] won the Galtres at York and the third [Divina Grace] won the Chalice Stakes. I think that form could be quite strong in the context of this race.”

Representing Lambourn, Charlie Hills has two runners on the card with Ancient Rome looking to defend his title in the Mint Millions Stakes and Khaadem contesting the Ainsworth Turf Sprint Stakes (11:31).

"Ancient Rome ran a terrific race in the Arlington Million last time and we feel he's a better horse this year,” Hills said. “It's something different for Khaadem going round a bend. He would have to be one of the better horses in there and he'll love the fast ground."

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