Frankie: Motivator will have to be at his best
While Frankie Dettori has a huge amount of respect for Michael Bell’s Epsom hero, he believes that Motivator will have to be “at his best” to trouble his mount Shamardal in the Sandown showdown.
Transferred to the Godolphin operation in the winter, the Giant’s Causeway colt put a disastrous reappearance run in Dubai firmly behind him when landing the French 2000 Guineas.
He followed up in the French Derby and was most recently seen romping home in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot at York, ridden on that occasion by Kerrin McEvoy.
“Two great horses, two Derby winners - that’s what racing is all about,” the Italian told At The Races.
“I take nothing way from Motivator - he is a great horse and is unbeaten. I really do worry about him, but he has to be at his best to give my horse a race.”
Shamardal led all of the way during his three victories, but Dettori refuted the suggestion that he stole any of his Group One successes.
He also gave no credence to the theory that Godolphin stablemate Grand Emporium might be there to spoil the race for Motivator.
Dettori continued: “Shamardal has never been able to get a lead - everybody has supposed that I have to make the running, but he doesn’t have to.
“It depends how the race is run. He is very versatile and you can do what you want with him, and it seems that the more racing he has, the more relaxed and professional he is.
“We are a very clean outfit and we are not there to interfere in anybody’s run. We know how good Shamardal is, Motivator is an excellent horse and it should be a fantastic race. Let the best horse win!”
Simon Crisford, racing manager to Godolphin confirmed that the former champion juvenile is in good shape despite running three times in the space of a month.
Crisford told Racing UK: “He takes his racing really well and has plenty of momentum behind him at the present time. He seems to be going forward and we could not be more pleased with him.
“He has come out of Ascot fine. Obviously he has not done any serious training since then, but he is one of those horses that seems to thrive on his racing.
“Sheikh Mohammed loves a great battle and a challenge and taking on Motivator seems the best challenge of all.
“If Motivator turned up at Sandown the same as at Epsom, he’s going to be very tough, but we think Shamardal is tough too.”
Crisford hinted that Grand Emporium might be employed to set the pace, but that plans had not yet been finalised.
He added: “He certainly wouldn’t be good enough to win the Eclipse, but we need to see how the race is going to shape up.”
