Dettori admits difficult decision over Oaks ride
It was left to his number two, Aussie Kerrin McEvoy, to take the reins aboard UltimateBet.com 1000 Guineas runner-up Sundrop, as both fillies completed serious pieces of work on the trial gallop with their lead horses.
Leading Vodafone Derby fancy Snow Ridge was also put through his paces by Ted Durcan, leading Saeed bin Suroor, the trainer of Godolphin's Classic hopes, to suggest that they had as good a team as ever to take to the Vodafone Derby and Oaks.
Snow Ridge will be Dettori's mount in the colts' Classic, with McEvoy set to ride stablemate Rule of Law.
But jockey plans for the Oaks on the preceding afternoon will not be finalised until early next week, according to the Italian.
"I still have no idea and I won't make up my mind until as late as possible," he said yesterday.
"Normally, Sheikh Mohammed makes my mind up for me even if he asks me first!
"Punctilious is a very classy type of filly, different but very talented and I have no doubts about her staying a mile and a half.
"Sundrop's form in the Guineas has worked out very well and it will be hard to choose.
"Remember there was only a short-head between them when they ran against each other in the Fillies' Mile last year.
"They are both good enough to win the race and I don't want to get it wrong, but if I do then I hope Kerrin is on the winner because it means I will get to ride her after that.
"We'll all have to have a sit down and work it out."
Dettori might be keeping his cards close to his chest, but bookmakers were paying attention as news reached them that Dettori had partnered Punctilious on the gallops.
William Hill cut the price of Punctilious for the Oaks from 4-1 into 7-2, whilst easing out Sundrop from 5-2 to 11-4.
"It might only be speculation, but the fact that Frankie rode Punctilious has sent some punters scampering around to back the Musidora winner," said Hills spokesman David Hood.
"We saw some good activity for the 4-1 this morning and we have trimmed the filly half a point whilst easing out Sundrop.
"Make no mistake, the popularity of Dettori would be a critical factor in deciding which filly will go off favourite for the Oaks. If he chooses Punctilious then they will definitely 'flip-flop' in the betting and I can imagine her being as short as 2-1 on the day."
After a brief holiday in Sardinia, yesterday morning's spin marked Dettori's first time back in the saddle since breaking a finger in a freak accident at Goodwood last week.
And the rider said he was pleased with the progress of his injury.
"It is tender, but that is to be expected and I won't be riding again until Saturday so that is a few more days," he explained.
Already on Dettori's mind when he does come back is the Vodafone Derby, a race missing from the Italian's roster of major-race victories and a contest he desperately wants to win.
Fortunately, in the shape of Snow Ridge, he has one of the contest's major contenders and a colt who in his opinion will provide him with his greatest chance to date of winning the race.
"It didn't take Einstein to work out that Dubai Millennium was going to struggle to stay a mile and a half and even though Cape Verdi won the Guineas well she was a filly against the colts which was always going to be hard," he explained.
"To win it would be to fulfil my dreams. I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel some pressure. I feel it more than any other race in the world.
"I am already thinking about the race and running it through in my mind and it is still 12 days away!"
