Dettori out to scupper Hawk hopes

Frankie Dettori is devising a plan to defeat Hawk Wing for the second time this month when he partners Noverre for Godolphin in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot tomorrow.

Dettori brought Grandera with a late burst to pip the Aidan O‘Brien-trained Hawk Wing on the post in the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes three weeks ago.

Best Of The Bests, who was only a neck further behind in third at Leopardstown, will again give Godolphin a second string to their bow.

"Obviously we have a few aces up our sleeves," Dettori told attheraces. "We know that Hawk Wing is beatable, but he is a very talented horse. We shall have to see what happens on the day and I need a horse to go with it."

Noverre was a beaten favourite in this race 12 months ago when race tactics did not go to plan as Godolphin’s number two, Summoner, sprang a 33-1 surprise with Noverre, ridden by Dettori, a length and a half back in second place.

The winner of the Sussex Stakes last year, he has not recaptured his best form this season. He was firmly put in his place by Hawk Wing’s brilliant stable-companion Rock of Gibraltar in the Sussex this summer and disappointed again when sixth in the Atto Mile at Woodbine three weeks ago.

"Let’s hope that the Canadian race was a little blip and that he comes back to the old Noverre," added Dettori.

Both Rock of Gibraltar and Hawk Wing were among the eight horses declared for the £300,000 (€477,000) showpiece at Thursday‘s 48-hour deadline.

But Rock of Gibraltar, winner of seven successive Group One races, has been left in purely as a potential substitute for Hawk Wing in the mile event should the ground soften.

Hawk Wing’s sole Group One success this season came in the Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes at Sandown which he won from Sholokhov and that same stablemate is set to accompany him to post for the NetJets-sponsored contest.