Sport

Dettori to ride Strawberry Roan

STRAWBERRY ROAN has understandably attracted support for the Budweiser Irish Derby following the news that Frankie Dettori has…

Thu Jun 26 1997 - 01:00

STRAWBERRY ROAN has understandably attracted support for the Budweiser Irish Derby following the news that Frankie Dettori has been booked to ride the Ballydoyle filly.

Michael Tabor's daughter of Sadler's Wells, deputising for the owner's sidelined Entrepreneur, is 4 to 1 second favourite for the Classic with William Hill, whose betting is headed by even-money shot Silver Patriarch.

And Ladbrokes report money for the strong-finishing Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up and have cut her price to 5 to 1 from 6 to 1.

"After Strawberry Roan's very unlucky run in the Irish 1,000 people have been quick to back Aidan O'Brien's filly to gain ample compensation on Sunday," said Ladbrokes spokesman Ian Wassell.

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"She has joined stable-mate Desert King as 5 to 1 joint-second favourite." O'Brien's third runner, Johan Cruyff, has also been backed for the race having been cut to 12 to 1 from 16 to 1 by Ladbrokes.

Dettori was confirmed as Strawberry Roan's rider yesterday. "He definitely rides her," said the dual champion jockey's agent Matty Cowing.

"She did well in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and he is going to Ireland to ride her for Aidan O'Brien."

O'Brien supplemented Strawberry Roan for the mile-and-a-half Classic on Tuesday at a cost of IR£70,000.

Meanwhile, Dettori missed three rides at Epsom last night after he failed to pass a medical examination which followed an earlier fall at Salisbury.

He is expected to be out of action until tomorrow while he recovers from the stiffness that set in after he was unshipped by Badge of Fame exiting the parade ring for the Gibbs Mew Bibury Cup Stakes.

Dettori was stood down for the last two races hut travelled to Epsom where he hoped to have recovered in time for rides that included one for the Queen and Godolphin.

At Salisbury, the jockey said: "I'm more shook up than anything as I put my arm out to save myself from the fall and just jarred my shoulder."

. French star Helissio will face just a handful of rivals in the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris on Sunday. The runaway Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner was among only seven acceptors yesterday for the mile-and-a-half contest which he won last year. And of the septet Loup Sauvage is a doubtful runner as he is expected to head instead for the Irish Derby the same afternoon.