Motivator team wait on jockey decision

Connections of Motivator are in no hurry to announce who will replace Johnny Murtagh on the Vodafone Derby winner in the Irish Champion Stakes next month.

Frankie Dettori is the Motivator team’s first choice to deputise for the Irish rider, who is serving a 21-day ban, at Leopardstown on September 10.

However, the champion jockey would have to be freed by Godolphin and he is only set to return to race riding on Friday after nearly eight weeks out with a broken collarbone.

“We are just going to sit tight and wait until after the weekend before we sit down and talk about it. There’s no rush,” said Harry Herbert, racing manager for the colt’s owners the Royal Ascot Racing Club.

“Frankie will possibly know more about his plans as well by that stage.”

Dettori may be needed by Godolphin in the Irish Champion or at Doncaster’s Ladbrokes St Leger meeting the same day.