Italian Frankie Dettori has been given a late call-up to Saturday's Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Shergar Cup at Ascot. The Italian (yes, I repeat myself) will ride for, wait for it, Britain!
Having represented Europe in the contest's original format, he will utilise his "dual passport" (courtesy of his Arsenal shirt?) this year.
He explained: "I'm delighted to be riding in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup again.
"Obviously I'm changing teams having ridden for Europe last year but I have lived here for 25 years and been British champion jockey three times so I think I'm pretty well qualified to join Hayley [Turner] and Seb [Sanders] on the home team."
His presence should certainly guarantee maximum coverage for the event in which Jamie Spencer, Richard Hughes and Kevin Manning will represent Ireland. After being lambasted by the world and his dog last week at Goodwood, expect a bold show from Manning.
Meanwhile, The Rest of The World team consists of Yutaka Take and the world's two winning-most jockeys of all time, Jorge Ricardo and Russell Baze, Gerald Mosse, Mirco Demuro and Halis Karatas – from Turkey but a winner at Nad Al Sheba.
