Velazquez to step in for Douglas at Royal Ascot

TOP American jockey John Velazquez is set to return to Royal Ascot next month after he was asked to replacethe stricken Rene Douglas and ride the six horses US trainer Wesley Ward will saddle at the meeting.

John Velazquez: nine-year absence

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.com 

Velazquez rode at the meeting in 2000 when he was one of the jockeys Godolphin employed as a stand in for Frankie Dettori who had suffered serious injuries in a plane crash. His best finish was a second placing aboard Teggiano in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Ward, who is bringing sprinter Cannonball and five two-year-olds to Ascot, turned to Velazquez after original choice Douglas was crushed in a racing accident on Saturday, sustaining such severe injuries that he may not walk again.

"I've gone to John Velazquez to ride these horses," said Ward, who worked the team on the turf at River Downs racecourse at the weekend. "The horses worked awesome.

"Judging by the two-year-olds' workouts and times, if they were in races at Del Mar, Gulfstream, Belmont or Arlington they would win, I don't care who races against them, so I can't see them running a bad race at Ascot. All they need now is one easy breeze next Monday and then it's a case of getting them to Newmarket and keeping them happy."

Ward said losing Douglas was a major blow, particularly for the 42-year-old jockey who had told him he was hoping to find a riding job in Europe.

"Rene was looking forward to going and one of the major reasons he was going to Europe was to get a contract so he could finish his career riding on turf," he added.