Dettori fired up for first victory

EPSOM DERBY PREVIEW:  The Derby has witnessed some pretty remarkable stories over its 225-year history but if Frankie Dettori can win the famous old race on Snow Ridge today then the roars of approval will reverberate down through the ages.

Mind you a lot of the lung power could be generated by the man himself. Never one to underplay a winner, Dettori's victory leap could go stratospheric if the Godolphin-owned Snow Ridge can enter the world's most hallowed winner's enclosure. But even those who tut-tut Dettori's Italian exuberance might melt when faced with such obvious relief.

Snow Ridge will be the little man's 12th attempt to win the Derby and it says as much about the race's enduring appeal as it does about Dettori that there will be such popular goodwill helping to propel him around Tattenham Corner and beyond.

Tomorrow, the French will run off their own Derby at Chantilly, complete with the Irish contender Five Dynasties. Tonight, in New York, the unbeaten colt Smarty Jones will try and become the first in 26 years to complete the American Triple Crown. But even in such crowded company Epsom retains its magic and no one appreciates it more than one of the world's most famous jockeys.

"Winning would fulfil my dreams," said Dettori yesterday. "I would be lying if I said I didn't feel pressure. I feel it more than any other race in the world because it would be the last piece of the puzzle in terms of my career."Dettori's honesty means millions watching will have a bird's eye view of absolute determination.

Not many have an edge in drive on Kieren Fallon but in contrast to his great rival, Fallon is already a double Derby winner. Today he is on North Light and if the two colts fight out the finish it will be the perfect end to another great story.

The first and second favourites were both born at the Ballymacoll Stud near Dunboyne in Co Meath. North Light arrived first, on March 1st, 2001; Snow Ridge on April 9th. Since then their careers have differed significantly.

Snow Ridge's precocious talent was such that his first trainer, Marcus Tregoning, was gushing last September: "He is so exciting. The best two-year-old I've trained. I think he is a tremendous prospect."

That sort of write-up had Sheikh Mohammed calling with the sort of cheque that proved impossible for Lord Weinstock to turn down. Maybe the owner knew even then he had some quality back in Michael Stoute's yard.

The ultimate result has been that Snow Ridge carried the famous blue Godolphin colours into second place in the 2,000 Guineas while North Light marched into the Derby picture with a narrow Dante victory.

It's shaping up into a classic stayer-versus-speedster battle, with 12 other runners possibly scrapping for the rest of the £1.25 million in prizemoney.

They include the sole Irish starter, Meath, who has been pitched in as a late replacement for the long-time Aidan O'Brien number one, Yeats. Underestimating the Gallinule Stakes winner could be an expensive mistake but Meath may not be good enough to win.

American Post, a triple Group One winner already, will try and give the French a first Epsom success in 28 years. However, his last start, and his galloping action, have raised serious questions about him acting on the unique track. The going may be the problem with Percussionist and some tail-swishing in the Guineas indicated Salford City's problem may be more mental than physical.

The bookmakers believe this Derby is between the two old pals from Co Meath and it's hard to disagree with their conclusion. North Light looks to have most of the ingredients needed in a prospective Derby winner, including guaranteed stamina.

That is one area where Snow Ridge might be suspect but with one fired-up Italian on his back, the Godolphin horse can hang on long enough to provide the perfect result.