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Frankie Dettori takes Richard Kingscote's ride on Desert Crown

jon-vine
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Last updated: 10 Jun 2023
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Jon Vine 10 Jun 2023
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  • Breaking news regarding former Derby winner Desert Crown
  • Richard Kingscote has ridden Desert Crown on all of his starts
  • Owner Saaed Suhail has decided to book Frankie Dettori to ride at Royal Ascot
richard kingscote
Richard Kingscote at Ascot Racecourse in 2022. (Getty)

Richard Kingscote has been jocked off Desert Crown at Royal Ascot, with owner Saaed Suhail booking Frankie Dettori to take the ride.

Kingscote has been in the saddle for all of Desert Crown's successes, including that fantastic victory in the Epsom Derby last season. Following a pleasing return from injury in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, punters had already backed Desert Crown into favouritism for the 2023 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, where Kingscote was again expected to take the ride.

However, on Friday afternoon, Saaed Suhail's racing manager Bruce Raymond dropped a bombshell on the racing world, announcing that Kingscote would be replaced in the saddle at Royal Ascot by Frankie Dettori.

"(Saaed) just feels that for Desert Crown to win this race is all important and while Frankie is around he wants to give the horse every chance." Raymond told the press.

"He believes Frankie is unbeatable around Ascot and that is why. It's no disgrace for Richard at all, I myself was jocked off Carroll House when he won the Arc."

Dettori made headlines at Royal Ascot back in 1996, when he became the first jockey to ride the winner of all six races on a single card. In his final season as a jockey, Dettori has been riding as well as ever and he's sure to pick up plenty more high-profile rides at his final Royal Ascot meeting.

This news will come, however, as a bitter blow for Richard Kingscote. Just last month, Kingscote criticised his own riding when Passenger was beaten in Dante Stakes at York and his partnership with Desert Crown was heavily scrutinised heading into last year's Derby.

"I'm sure Richard will be riding (when Dettori is not available)." Raymond continued.

"Obviously Ryan Moore is Sir Michael Stoute's No 1 jockey if he can get him but he's going to be unavailable in most of the big races."

"I think it's better to have a jockey that you know riding the horse than anybody else, so I'm sure he [Kingscote] will be back on the horse should Frankie not be able to ride for any reason."

"I think he's a very good horse and I think he'll go forward into a lot of good races, with Richard on, hopefully."

Kingscote will transfer onto Sir Michael Stoute's second-string, Bay Bridge, who will take on stablemate Desert Crown for the first time at Royal Ascot. You can find the latest betting for the 2023 Prince Of Wales's Stakes here on our website...

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