Dettori to defend International title

Frankie Dettori will be back to defend his crown in the fifth International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on December 11.

The in-form Italian has hit the jackpot twice in this competition – his first victory coming in 1999.

The Japan Cup winning rider also numbers another past title holder, Olivier Peslier, the 1998 winner, among his rivals.

Fellow Europeans taking part in the three-race competition, determined on a points basis, are Irish champion Mick Kinane, British champion Kieren Fallon, Andreas Suborics (Germany) and Mirco Demuro (Italy).

The riding contingent is completed by Damien Olivier (Australia), Douglas Whyte (Hong Kong), Yutaka Take (Japan), Shane Dyze (New Zealand) and Edgar Prado (USA).

Whyte apart, another locally-based rider will also take place part. This will be the leading rider after the December 7 meeting.