Darley looking forward to Motivator
Kevin Darley will travel to Newmarket tomorrow for his first experience of Motivator before teaming up with the Derby winner in the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
The Yorkshire-based jockey will replace Frankie Dettori aboard Michael Bell’s son of Montjeu should the trainer judge the ground at the Dublin track to be soft enough for Motivator to take his chance.
Dettori will be on Ladbrokes St Leger favourite Scorpion due to the uncertainty of Motivator’s participation, but Darley was more than happy to jump into the saddle.
“I am really pleased to get the ride, it’s a brilliant spare. I’m going down tomorrow to get a bit of a feel for him and we’ll take it from there,” he said.
“I know there are still some concerns over the ground for him, but the latest I heard was rain is due at the track and hopefully he will get enough to get the green light.”
However, the irony that his other big mount, Attraction, who runs in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes on the same card, would prefer faster conditions is not lost on the rider.
“As long as it’s not too loose then Attraction should be okay, but ideally I want enough rain for Motivator to run and not too much to disadvantage the filly,” he explained.
“I’m told Attraction is absolutely flying at home, but I’ve never sat on her at home and I’ve always believed ’if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it’.
“We’ll just have to see what the weather does over the next few days, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Bell pinpointed Darley’s big-race record as one of key reasons for securing his services.
He said: “Kevin is a very experienced jockey with a very good record in big races, so we are very lucky and happy to have got him. He’s been champion jockey and ridden stacks of big-race winners.
“It was difficult for Frankie. When he made his decision yesterday the forecast was not as positive about rain. He’s not retained by us so it was his call and he’s now hopped on the favourite for the St Leger.”
Bell and his team are keen not to risk their Epsom hero on fast ground after he suffered his first reverse in the Coral-Eclipse, but the ground at Leopardstown could be in his favour given the unfavourable forecast.
“Motivator is very well but his participation is dependent on the weather forecast being correct,” Bell continued.
“As things stand at the moment he is going over on Friday because rain is forecast, so we won’t really know until Saturday morning when the rain has past through. We are waiting for the weather front to pass through on Thursday and Friday.
“If the forecast is correct he’s going to run but we do need the forecast rain to arrive. The clerk of the course at Leopardstown tells me it is going to rain, so we’ve got to be hopeful.
“He is in very good form and looks a picture so we are ready to rock and roll.”
Bell had planned to walk the course at Leopardstown to assess the suitability of the ground, but scrapped his trip due to the change in weather forecast.
Harry Herbert, racing manager to owners the Royal Ascot Racing Club, added: “The forecast at the moment appears to show there may be more rain than they originally thought.
“They are talking of up to two inches of rain and if they get that we will definitely be a goer for Saturday.
“With the revised forecast there was no point in Michael going over there, so we will see what happens Thursday night into Friday, keep an eye on the forecast and go from there.
“If needs be he could walk the course on Friday, but it seems as though the rains are coming.”
Motivator will again clash with Coral-Eclipse winner Oratorio this weekend, along with King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes hero Azamour, and Herbert is relishing the prospect of the Group One showpiece.
“The horse is really well and has been working really well,” he added. “These races are what it is all about and it should be a really thrilling contest.”
