Dettori one extreme to another

Frankie goes from Dubai to Switzerland, this must be better than Ngong for a Sunday?




Dettori in action at 'White Turf' fixture

Preview: Switzerland, Sunday

St Moritz: Gubelin Grosser Preis von St Moritz 1m2f, 4yo+, 13.10 GMT

FRANKIE DETTORI makes a brief return to Europe during the Dubai racing season to take part in Sunday's Gubelin Grosser Preis von St Moritz, the £69,629 feature race of the annual three-meeting 'White Turf' festival on the frozen lake racecourse at St Moritz in Switzerland.

Dettori, who had a full book of rides at Meydan on Friday, has participated once before on this unique snow-covered course. But that was way back in 1993 when he finished fifth in the Grosser Preis aboard Art Sebal.

Seventeen years on and he has landed a good ride in the Miroslav Weiss-trained dual course winner Vlavianus, who finished third to Song Of Victory in this race last year.


His 15 rivals include the Mark Johnston-trained Mannlichen (Steve Drowne) and Hail Caesar, who has come all the way from Ted Walsh's yard in County Kildare, Ireland, and will be ridden by Jim Crowley.

Mannlichen made a fine snow debut when third to Winterwind in the main trial (with Vlavianus just behind in fourth and seven more of Sunday's opponents also in the field) two weeks ago. Mannlichen is slightly worse off at the weights now but should appreciate the step up to 1m2f.

Hail Caesar made the frame three times in Pattern events for Aidan O'Brien last season and was runner-up to Politeo on his hurdling debut at Thurles last month. He is re-equipped with blinkers, which were deployed for his latest win back in July.

Other interesting contenders are First Time, who already has two Grosser Preis triumphs to her name, and the in-form German raiders Rolling Home and Bucked Off.

Dettori's other ride on the card is the veteran Collow, who may be losing his speed at the age of ten but has been placed four times in the Grosser Preis. He sidesteps the big race to run in the Grand Prix AXA Winterthur over 1m1f.

My fiver says that if any SA jockey were to see that they would have the meeting abandoned as they dont even want to race when it drizzels

Tellina won in a common canter yesterday in Germany. Apparently St Moritz, racing on the snow is on the cards, in its next start.

Cheers Naresh got a surprise when I seen this thread I had just highlighting another old thread and thought I was going mad lol

naresh wrote: Tellina won in a common canter yesterday in Germany. Apparently St Moritz, racing on the snow is on the cards, in its next start.

Tellina was carded to run in the snow but the meeting has been cancelled due to a horse falling yesterday and a hole formed thereafter. The unfortunate jockey was St Leger winning jockey George Baker who was riding for Jamie Osbourne and had to be airlifted to hospital. Sadly the horse had to be put down.

Wish George the best....

The person that came up with the idea to race on ice must have been daft in the heid !

Bob, Surely not be as daft as the person who watches on TV and then declares our SA jocks as scared or spoilt etc....ref last Thursday thread...kikuyu grass...

louisg wrote: Bob, Surely not be as daft as the person who watches on TV and then declares our SA jocks as scared or spoilt etc....ref last Thursday thread...kikuyu grass...

Million times dafter

louisg wrote: Bob, Surely not be as daft as the person who watches on TV and then declares our SA jocks as scared or spoilt etc....ref last Thursday thread...kikuyu grass...

Louis by definition you have just intimated the people on the panel who decided that it was safe to race are daft!

OTA, u obviously won't find happiness in SA Racing. ..the bottom line is that all must agree that it's safe to race. Any other opinion but that of the jocks is actually speculation or a wild guess. When and where have u ridden in races or at work ? Please tell me where else in the World (which u live comparing us to), they have no other option but Kikuyu grass as the surface ?
The bottom line is that it rained on top of a wet course. Why is this so difficult to digest.
I have been on many panels before (obviously so have you), and I PISS MYSELF LAUGHING at the people who stamp on the course during track inspections and in so doing, try to emulate a horse's hoof impact (2500psi) on the Turf, by using his/her foot.... but nobody WANTS to or CAN see that in the last race that was run, the horses had their heads up and were holding back/ looking after themselves. ..because it would be easier, if racing continued, to blame a jock for an unfavourable result.

Bob Brogan wrote: Wish George the best....

The person that came up with the idea to race on ice must have been daft in the heid !

Bob, how many fatalities has there been at the Chelthenhem and Grand National Festival Meetings ? I also seen on the St Moritz Tourism websites that Polo is also played. It was an unfortunate incident and better precautions will be taken for the event next year.

louisg wrote: Bob, Surely not be as daft as the person who watches on TV and then declares our SA jocks as scared or spoilt etc....ref last Thursday thread...kikuyu grass...

LG I hope you are not referring to the person as being daft for posting and sharing the link. With no comment.

There is obviously a big difference and the horse have different shoes , gear , etc. there was no malice in sharing a programme that is currently showing on 401 Winning Post .