Dettori's Motivator ride depends on Centaurus' performance

Frankie Dettori has pinpointed Centaurus’ performance in Saturday’s Windflower March Stakes as the key factor in whether he will be able to ride Derby winner Motivator at Leopardstown next month.

The Italian has been pencilled in to partner Michael Bell’s colt in the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes on September 10, but his availability hinges on Godolphin’s running plans.

The jockey’s employers currently have no runners engaged in the Ladbrokes St Leger on the same day, but could supplement impressive Newmarket winner Centaurus at a cost of £25,000 (€36,736) if he puts up a good show at Goodwood.

Dettori told At The Races: “I have been pencilled in for the ride on Motivator but on Saturday I have got Centaurus in the March Stakes and that will decide whether I am available to ride.

“If Centaurus wins well then I am sure that Sheikh Mohammed will run him in the Leger, but if he underperforms then that could leave the door open for me to ride Motivator – he is the Derby winner and I am looking forward to it.

“The Irish Champion Stakes is one of the top races of the year and I have had some great clashes there with Fantastic Light and Galileo and Grandera with Hawk Wing.

“It usually brings the best of the three-year-olds and the older horses together and is normally a great clash.”

Dettori will return from a near eight-week holiday after breaking his left collarbone in a horror fall at Sandown last month when he gets the leg-up at Newmarket on Friday afternoon.

“Friday is my first day back and I have about four or five rides – most of them maidens first time out and I don’t know too much about them,” Dettori continued.

“At least I am not coming back on a big day, it is nice to just come back and get a couple of rides under my belt.

“Then on Saturday it is back to business. There is the March Stakes at Goodwood and then I will drive to Windsor where they have a Group race – the Winter Hill – in which Windsor Knot will be running.

“I’ll be back to Goodwood on Sunday where Layman runs in the Celebration Mile, so even if Friday is very quiet, I have some very good rides during the weekend.”