Dettori chases history in Japan

Dubai: Frankie Dettori will today bid to become only the second foreign jockey in history to win the Grade 1 Japanese Derby, the richest derby in the world with prize money of $3.7 million (Dh13.5 million).

Mirco Demuro, who won the $10 million Dubai World Cup aboard Victorie Pisa at Meydan in March holds the honour of being the one foreign rider to win the Yushun since its inception in 1932. His winning ride came aboard Neo Universe in 2003.

Dettori will trade his famous all-blue Godolphin silks for the maroon and white colours of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who is represented in Japan's blue riband race by the exciting colt Debonair.

Shaikh Mohammad also chases racing history as he bids to become the first overseas owner to win the race which has been almost totally dominated by locally-owned horses.

A Darley-bred son of Agnes Tachyon, Debonair finished fourth in last month's Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas), but was finishing strongly when clocking the fastest closing split.

Trained in Japan

He is trained in Japan by Kazuya Nakatake who said: "He's been racing his heart out for us. I feel so fortunate to be going to the Derby with him — it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Debonair has won only once in seven starts but goes into today's 2,400 metre contest at the Tokyo Racecourse as a leading outsider.

Dettori is no stranger to success in Japan, having won the Japan Cup (Grade 1) three times on Singspiel (1996), Falbrav (2002) and Alkaased (2005).

His last ride in the country was when partnering Ouija Board to third place behind Deep Impact in the 2006 Japan Cup.

Dettori is joined in today's race by three overseas riders including Australian Craig Williams on Tosen Reve and Italian rider Nicola Pinna on Northern River.

The likely favourite is Satsuki Sho winner Orfevre who will be ridden by Keniche Ikezoe for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee.

"It's definitely reassuring that he's won at the same course and the distance shouldn't be an issue given his bloodlines," said the rider in the Racing Post.

Winners of the Satsuki Sho have a good record in the Tokyo Yushun, with 21 winners completing the Guineas-Derby double. However it has been five years since that trend took a knock. Last season's Guineas winner Victoire Pisa was third in the Yushun.

"I remember I had goosebumps the first time I rode in the Derby," added Ikezoe. "It's a rare opportunity to be in the Derby with the Satsuki Sho champion. It's probably the best chance I've ever had."

Dettori has been granted a short-term jockey's licence by the Japan Racing Association which permits him to ride Debonair. However, it is valid for only two days, May 28 and 29.

Shaikh Mohammad was the first foreign owner to be registered in the Japan Racing Association owners' list in 2009 together with his wife Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain and his son Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The Japanese Derby is the second leg of the Japanese Triple Crown, preceded by the Satsuki Sho (the Japanese equivalent of the English 2,000 Guineas) in mid-late April and followed by the Kikuka Sho (the Japanese equivalent of the English St. Leger Stakes) in mid-late October.

Since 2010 all graded black-type races in the JRA calendar are open to international competition. Prior to that they were limited to Japanese-trained horses.