Dettori gets call for Authorized

Frankie Dettori has unexpectedly been given a fantastic opportunity to land his first ever Vodafone Derby after getting the call-up to ride Epsom favourite Authorized in the Dante Stakes at York on Thursday.

Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Racing Post Trophy winner was expected to be partnered by Jimmy Fortune this term due to Dettori’s commitments to Godolphin.

But the eclipse of Mythical Kid in the Lingfield Derby Trial on Saturday means Godolphin now have no obvious contender for the Epsom Classic.

Authorized is as short as 7-2 with Coral for the Derby and the colt is owned like last year’s dual Group One winner Araafa, by Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar.

Ray Cochrane, Dettori’s agent, told the Racing Post: “The owner’s manager Tony Nerses rang me this morning (Saturday) and asked if we could ride Authorized in the Dante. As we didn’t have a ride in the race, we can.

“Frankie won the Racing Post Trophy on Authorized and if you win a big race on a horse, you expect to be first-choice rider.”