Dettori demoted

[Ardross]

Godolphin really have shot themselves in the foot here. It seems plain that Barzalona is being signed up as the heir apparent - de Sousa for all the crap about there being no priority is plainly third in the pecking order and might justifiably be aggrieved at being so when he turned down the Hamdan job.

It is a pretty poor way to treat Dettori ( although of course he remains very well paid !) who remains one of the very best jockeys in the world . It is also rather disingenuous to suggest this is the first time they have had other signed up jockeys - McEvoy was surely signed up .

It was rather ironic and amusing to see the first fruits of Sheikh Mohammed's policy in the Heron Stakes - Dettori subtly ensuring Barzalona and Irish History were stuck on the rail and Barzalona unwisely trying to sneak up the rail ( never a good idea at Sandown ) whilst Dettori landed the prize on Cogito.

Sheikh Mohammed appears to have forgetten what Vincent O'Brien said of Lester - one of the best things about having Lester riding for you is that he is not riding against you .

 

[edgt]

Sheikh Mohammed appears to have forgetten what Vincent O'Brien said of Lester - one of the best things about having Lester riding for you is that he is not riding against you .[/QUOTE]

well said. The fact that they do not seem to have too many high class horses at the moment is their biggest problem. Frankie is more and more the man for the Big occasion, not the lesser ones. Older and wiser members will remember Rae Johnstone amongst others who specialised on the big races of which there were few fifty plus years ago. Frankie would be well suited by this if the Meyden form of Godolphin continued, now that he is in his 40s. As you say, he is very well paid.