Botti and Dettori back in homeland to team up with Dark Acclaim in Italian Derby

135th Derby Italiano (Group 2) | 1m3f | turf | 3yo colts & fillies

Italian racing fans have another chance to admire the talents of homebred jockeys Frankie Dettori and Andrea Atzeni, who both return to take part in the Derby Italiano on Sunday.

Dettori partners Newmarket challenger Dark Acclaim, trained by Marco Botti, while Atzeni has been called up by Marco's father Alduino Botti to partner Solvang.

Dark Acclaim was put in his place behind Mildenberger in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket last time and, although stoutly bred on the maternal side of his pedigree, is not a guaranteed stayer.

Botti said: "We've been happy with his work since his Newmarket run. I think stepping up in trip on a galloping track will suit him quite well.

"The main dangers look to be Flower Party and Wait Forever, but we're happy to take our chance and hopefully he'll run a good race."

Derby Italiano card

Solvang won his maiden before teaming up with Atzeni, but was beaten four and a half-lengths by the reopposing Henry Mouth in a Listed Derby trial over half a furlong shorter at this track.

The top credentials are probably held by Flower Party and Summer Festival, both running for Alduino Botti.

Champion trainer more than 30 times, he heads up Team Botti, based at Cenaia, Pisa, where more than 200 horses are based, with son Stefano in charge of the day-to-day running.

They are responsible for seven of the 12 runners, with connections sweet on the prospects of Flower Party, bidding to become the first filly to land the Derby since Archidamia in 1936.

Unbeaten in four starts by an aggregate of just over 20 lengths, Flower Party is by Duke Of Marmalade and out of a mare from a staying family, so this extra furlong is right up her street.

Summer Festival has won four of his last five starts and was giving weight all round when landing a 1m2f Listed race at San Siro. The way he relished that step up in trip suggests there is more to come with another furlong to go this time.

Also on Sunday . . .

5.45 Capannelle
Premio Tudini (Group 3) | 6f | turf | 4yo+

Kevin Ryan has his Yorkshire-based team finding form and saddles Naadirr, the mount of Dettori, in this 14-runner sprint.

Runner-up in an Ascot Group 3 in 2015, Naadirr came from last to first to win a Doncaster handicap under a big weight at the end of March. That ended a two-year losing run and, at his best, he would be a major player.

Naadirr (right): go for Kevin Ryan at Capannelle

Ryan's son and assistant Adam said: "He travelled over well and won nicely last time out at Doncaster.

"On his old form, he's a very classy individual and it looks like he's bounced back to his old self. Having Frankie [Dettori] on board is an added bonus."

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