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Frankie and Snowfall reunite: Dettori booked for Vermeille with Moore in Ireland

16-length winners Snowfall and Frankie Dettori pour it on in the Cazoo Oaks
Snowfall and Frankie Dettori run away with the Oaks at Epsom, and Dettori could be on board again this weekendCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Frankie Dettori is in line for a major call-up to ride Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favourite Snowfall in Sunday's Prix Vermeille at Longchamp, with Ryan Moore expected to remain at the Longines Irish Champions Weekend for a stellar book of rides.

Aidan O'Brien has stressed that riding arrangements could change, but provisional plans for Sunday indicate Dettori will travel to France, where the Ballydoyle trainer is also planning on running beaten Derby favourite Bolshoi Ballet in the Qatar Prix Niel.

It would be the second time the legendary rider has partnered the dual Classic star, having been aboard for Snowfall's sensational 16-length romp in the Oaks at Epsom in June.

Speaking to the Racing Post on Wednesday, O'Brien said: "Plans can obviously change, but at the moment it looks like Frankie will be going to France. I don't know yet who he'll be riding for us in the St Leger, but it is the plan for him to do that.

"At the moment it's looking like Ryan will stay in Ireland for both days of Irish Champions Weekend unless something changes."

Snowfall (Frankie Dettori) wins the Oaks by 16 lengthsEpsom 4.6.21 Pic: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Snowfall and Frankie Dettori are triumphant in the Cazoo OaksCredit: Edward Whitaker

It promises to be a bumper feast of high-class action across Ireland, Britain and France for O'Brien, with running plans for his Group 1 candidates yet to be finalised.

Declarations for day one of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and the Cazoo St Leger are due on Thursday morning, with Moore potentially having the likes of Mother Earth, St Mark's Basilica, Innisfree and Bluegrass to look forward to in the Group action at Leopardstown.

Unbeaten juvenile Point Lonsdale will fly the flag for the Moore-O'Brien-Coolmore axis on the second day at the Curragh in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.

Snowfall was one of five Ballydoyle fillies left in the mix for Sunday's top-level assignment at Longchamp, alongside Love, who is also entered in the Irish Champion Stakes and Moyglare Blandford Stakes, and Prix de Diane heroine Joan Of Arc, who also has entries in the Irish Champion and the Coolmore Matron Stakes.

O'Brien said of the current 9-4 favourite for Arc glory: "Everything has gone well for Snowfall since last time at York. She did very well from the Curragh to York and we've been happy with her since – that's why we felt she'd take another run in between."

Bolshoi Ballet: set for the Prix Niel
Bolshoi Ballet: set for the Prix Niel

Bolshoi Ballet returned with a nasty cut just off a tendon following his disappointing Epsom effort – with O'Brien describing him as "very sore" the morning after – but he soon got back in the winning groove when landing the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational in July.

Having seemingly been unsuited by the drop to 1m1½f when a well-held fourth in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational since then, the Galileo colt now steps back up to 1m4f for the first time since the Derby.


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"He'll probably go to France," said O'Brien of the three-year-old, who is also entered in the Irish Champion on Saturday.

"It'll be a step back up to this trip for the first time since the Derby so we're going to find out a lot."

One talented three-year-old who will miss the biggest weekend in Irish Flat racing is Wordsworth, who was absent from the Comer Group International Irish St Leger after Tuesday's forfeit stage.

Wordsworth: out for the remainder of the 2021 season through injury
Wordsworth: out for the remainder of the 2021 season through injuryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"He got a little injury and will be off for a while so he won't be back for a couple of months," said O'Brien. "We'll be hoping that he can come back again as a four-year-old."

Exciting Killarney maiden winner Luxembourg was another absentee from the weekend entries, but O'Brien says the possible 2022 Derby contender is being aimed towards the Group 2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes on September 25.


Irish Champions Weekend day one entries

Irish Champions Weekend day two entries


Read more:

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Adayar heads straight to Arc after hind leg infection rules out Niel bid


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Mark BoylanReporter

Published on 8 September 2021inNews

Last updated 17:00, 8 September 2021

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