Frankie Dettori returns to Meydan for the first time since the 2012 Dubai World Cup following his winning return to the saddle at Lingfield on Wednesday.
Dettori, out of the saddle through injury since October 2 last year, rode two winners on his comeback as Eco Warrior landed the Median Auction Maiden Stakes before making it a double on Gone With The Wind in the Maiden Stakes.
He then quickly boarded a plane to Dubai where he will ride Mshawish, for Mikel Delzangles, in the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort tonight.
The former Godolphin jockey split from the Dubai-owned stable in October 2012 before he was banned from the saddle in December having tested positive for an illegal substance later revealed to be cocaine.
Dettori has since been signed as the retained rider of Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad of Qatar, and is excited by what 2014 holds. He said: “I never thought I’d be back in January, but I’ve got a lot to look forward to. I’ve got a great job. I’ll be riding a bit in Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and then the French season starts earlier than England.”
Fourteen have been declared for the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort with South African Mike De Kock, seeking a sixth win in the race, declaring three in a race run over 1,400m for the first time, dropping from the original 1,600m length.
It is the first time at the 2014 Carnival that a turf race is the official feature and the trainer will not mind the change in distance for Anaerobio, a dual course and distance winner.
Christophe Soumillon, in the saddle for both those wins, one a fortnight ago and the other on the last day of February, retains the partnership.
De Kock also saddles Kavanagh, fifth in last week’s Dubai Stakes (1,200m, Tapeta) and 2013 Royal Ascot winner, Gale Force Ten, having his first start for the yard. Before rushing back to South Africa for a prestigious yearling sale.
De Kock said: “Obviously the conditions really suit Anaerobio, who is finally showing the form we knew he was capable of. “A dual classic winner in his native Argentina, he missed the whole of 2011 when arriving here and it took a long while to get him back to his best. “We will find out here just how much ability he retains – hopefully all of it.”
