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 | Barzalona lands plum Delegator Royal Ascot ride by Elliot Slater |
Sunday, 12th June 2011
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Jockey of the moment Mickael Barzalona has been confirmed as the replacement for the suspended Frankie Dettori on board ante-post favourite Delegator in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot next Saturday, writes Elliot Slater.
The 19-year-old French riding sensation is still basking in the glory of the brilliant ride he gave Andre Fabre's Pour Moi to win last weekend's Investec Derby at Epsom, where he produced the Montjeu colt to come from last to first to lead in the last couple of strides to beat Treasure Beach and Carlton House in what proved to be a highly dramatic contest.
Barzalona' exuberant celebrations when standing upright in his irons two strides before the line (even though the result appeared far from clear cut) was a measure of the tremendous confidence with which the new star of the weighing room is riding and he has clearly sufficiently impressed Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team to be offered the coveted ride on Delegator. Those following the free horse racing tips for Royal Ascot will see this as a good move.
Currently 5/1 in the Royal Ascot horse betting for the six furlong contest, Delegator made a tremendous impression at York last month when dropping back in distance to sprint for the first time in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes. (see video below)
The former Brian Meehan-trained colt, (who went fairly close to beating the sensational Sea the Stars in the 2009 2000 Guineas), failed to make much impression last term but appeared ideally suited by the drop in trip when coming from virtually last to first to beat the smart Regal Parade by half-a-length at York, looking as if he was probably value for rather more than the bare winning margin.
Dettori will be forced to watch on from the grandstand having picked up a 10-day suspension which rules him out of the last two days of the royal fixture so Barzalona will also partner one of Godolphin's posse of Hardwicke Stakes entries earlier on in Royal Ascot week.