Palace Pier v Baaeed: Frankie Dettori's thoughts on a potential QEII showdown

Frankie Dettori says it is time "to take the gloves off" as he welcomed the challenge that emerging superstar miler Baaeed poses to the established king of the division Palace Pier in what is shaping up to be one of the races of the season in the Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot next month.

Baaeed underlined his growing credentials with a Group 1 breakthrough in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday to extend his perfect record to five wins from five.

Dettori, who is preparing for a big week at Doncaster for the Cazoo St Leger festival, admitted to being impressed by the performance of the William Haggas-trained three year-old, but repeated his faith in Palace Pier, whom he hailed the best miler he has ever ridden after the Kingman colt fended off Poetic Flare in the Prix Jacques le Marois in August.

Palace Pier: star suffered the only defeat of his career on British Champions Day last yearCredit: John Walton (Getty Images)

That brought the four-year-old's record to nine wins from ten races, including five Group 1s, although his sole defeat was in last year's running of the QEII on British Champions Day when he could manage only third behind the Revenant.

Dettori said: "I did [see the Moulin] and Baaeed looked very impressive. If you've got a good miler then you're going to end up in the same races. I'm sure that the Bolger horse [Poetic Flare] will turn up and O'Brien's ones will run.

"There is no place to hide at this time of the year so we've just got to take the gloves off and go for it. Palace Pier has done nothing wrong and he has passed and won against everything put in front of him. Everybody who has tried to take his title away so far has failed so let's hope it stays that way."

Expert jury: find out how impressed our judges were by Baaeed's latest success

Dettori is not surprisingly in demand at Doncaster this week and is set to ride the first string of Aidan O'Brien's six-strong battalion being aimed at the final British Classic of the year on Saturday.

With Ryan Moore committed to riding St Mark's Basilica in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on the same afternoon, Dettori is at the disposal of the Ballydoyle trainer, and his options were increased on Monday when High Definition was supplemented for a fee of £50,000.

High Definition started the year as Derby favourite but did not run at Epsom after finishing third in the Dante at York, and has had a troubled summer since.

O'Brien now holds six of the remaining 13 entries for the St Leger, which Dettori has won six times, including once for Coolmore on Scorpion in 2005.

High Definition: Ballydoyle hopeful was supplemented for the Cazoo St Leger on MondayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The jockey said on Monday he was unsure whom he would be riding and would leave that decision up to O’Brien, for whom he has already ridden Mother Earth and Snowfall to victory in two British Classics this year.

Dettori said: "Ryan is going to be riding in the Irish Champion Stakes and Aidan has plenty entered but I still don't know which one he's going to put me on. I'll leave the decision to him. You know when you ride for him even the second or third string can win. I'm always excited to ride for him and I've been very lucky for him this year.

"This is a race where you need to get the distance and his horses are bred for that. Whatever he puts me on will be interesting and it's a race that has always been lucky for me."

Godolphin's Irish Derby winner Hurricane Lane is odds-on to provide trainer Charlie Appleby with a third Classic of the year, but Dettori is looking forward to taking him on.

"He's definitely got the best form but we're going into uncharted waters here," he said. "That trip is longer than you think and he's got to prove his stamina. Even Shergar got beat, so that proves anything can happen."

The three-time champion jockey, Dettori is also set to be reunited with Stradivarius in the Doncaster Cup, in which he could meet Goodwood Cup and Long Distance Cup winner Trueshan.

Stradivarius (right): overcame Spanish Mission in a nail-biting finish to the Yorkshire CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

With the John and Thady Gosden-trained seven-year-old's racing future uncertain beyond this year, Dettori says he is taking it one step at a time with Stradivarius.

"I went through the same thing with Enable and I just try to enjoy it. I hope that he'll stay in training but it's not my decision and I'll just enjoy one race at a time," he said.

"It's very ground dependent with him now and it looks like we should be all right with not much rain about. We'll see what turns up but I think he only does what needs to be done these days and let's hope he does the business. He doesn't have the speed of three years ago but luckily he knows where the winning post is."

3.35 Doncaster Saturday: Cazoo St Leger entries and betting

Cazoo St Leger

Paddy Power: 4-6 Hurricane Lane, 5 Ottoman Emperor, 13-2 Mojo Star, 7 High Definition, 9 Sir Lucan, 11 The Mediterranean, 20 Interpretation, King Of The Castle, 25 Youth Spirit, 33 Carlisle Bay, Fernando Vichi, 50 Save A Forest, Scope

Read more . . .

'I came out in a bathrobe and slippers' – Mark Johnston caught up in hotel fire

'It's a disaster and I'm mortified' – Haggas gutted after weigh-in woe

Gordon Elliott: 'I still lie in bed every night thinking about Envoi Allen'

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets