Frankie Dettori flies out to Belmont as he bids for famous Derby and Oaks double

Frankie Dettori will not be riding at Newmarket on July Cup day, or even at any of the five other meetings in Britain on Saturday, as he reunites with his former employer to ride two horses in Sheikh Mohammed's famous Godolphin silks at Belmont.

Dettori is not the only one heading to the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (10.12) in an attempt to add renewed lustre to his reputation. His mount Nations Pride had a winning run of four ended in the Derby.

The runaway winner of the Listed Newmarket Stakes was supplemented for the Classic and sent off at 15-2 under William Buick, but he could finish no better than eighth.

His trainer Charlie Appleby said: "He didn't stay the mile and a half of the Derby, it's as simple as that. We know he's got plenty of class. He showed that when winning the Listed Newmarket Stakes by seven lengths in the spring, beating Hoo Ya Mal, who was runner-up in the Derby.

"Dropping back to a mile and a quarter on a sound surface, he's going to be much better suited."

Nations Pride: Newmarket Stakes winner is Godolphin's representative in the Belmont DerbyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Two others who contested the Derby, the Aidan O'Brien-trained sixth Stone Age and Charlie and Mark Johnston's Royal Patronage, who finished 16th of 17, also make the trip to New York to contest the approximately £400,000 first prize over Belmont's turf course.

On Stone Age, O'Brien said: "There's a chance going back to ten furlongs might suit him better. We thought he would have no problem with the mile-and-a-half [last time out], but there might be a chance that it was too far for him.

"He's a good moving horse and a strong traveller. He's very happy to be forward and to take the lead. He's drawn wide, but he's very uncomplicated."

On Royal Patronage, who also chased home Desert Crown in the Dante, Mark Johnston added: "It's very exciting and we think it should suit. The ground's likely to be a lot faster than it is here, which we think is key for him.

"He likes a good, strong pace early, so we're hopeful."

With The Moonlight out to shine in Belmont Oaks

Dettori will also be aboard Godolphin’s With The Moonlight in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks (9.06). With The Moonlight had won three of her last four going into the Oaks at Epsom, including Newmarket’s Listed Pretty Polly Stakes by four and three quarter lengths, but she finished last of 11, beaten 26 lengths.

Appleby said: "She didn’t stay the trip at Epsom and she will be better suited dropping back to ten furlongs on fast ground."

Aidan O'Brien will also be represented in the Oaks with Ryan Moore aboard Concert Hall, who was fourth at Epsom and in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh.

He said: "She didn't have much luck inside the last couple of furlongs last time. She got a bad enough bump and squeeze and had to stop and go back to last and come around them again.

Concert Hall: Pretty Polly Stakes fourth heads for the Belmont OaksCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She ran a great race in the Oaks and won her Oaks trial over a mile and a quarter. She's versatile and I think somewhere around a mile and a quarter might be her best trip."

Concert Hall is not the only Oaks runner saddled by an O'Brien, with his son Joseph travelling Irish 1,000 Guineas fifth Agartha to contest the £285,000 first prize.

On her chances, owner Scott Heider said: "We had a decision to make: do we keep her over there and look for races in Europe, or do we look abroad?

"Even as far back as the week after the 1,000 Guineas, Joseph mentioned the Belmont Oaks as one of the possibilities."

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