GS75: Dettori – a dream for the defending champion
The defending champion Hard One To Please with one of the best jockeys in the world.
A dream for trainer Annike Bye Hansen.
"It would be huge if he would win with my horse" says the Norwegian native.
This Sunday, Bro Park is hosting GS75. It is not just any race day. On the card is the Stockholm Cup, but the biggest attraction is that one of the best jockeys of all time Frankie Dettori will come to ride. Dettori has made it clear that he wants to end his career while he still is on top of his game. He turns 53 this December and now he is on, what a rock star would call The Farewell Tour.
The Norwegian trainer Annike Bye Hansen starts two horses and has managed to get Dettori to ride both.
"It's huge of course. It's a bit of a coincidence that he rides my horses. He wanted to come ride at Bro Park and it worked out that he could ride for me. It will be exciting and my job is to have the horses ready. I hope the track will be better than it was last Sunday, it was horrible that day" says Annike Bye Hansen.
“The most talented horse I have had”
The race everyone is talking about is Stockholm Cup where last year's winner Hard One To Please, trained by Bye Hansen, faces the Derby winner Ayani, undefeated this year and owned by Benny Andersson of ABBA.
"It's a very good race and I think that Hard One To Please has a pretty good chance to win. He feels great in training and his strength is his best feature, and he also has a great gait and a tremendous attitude to his job. In training, he can be a bit ambitious but, in a race, he's quiet and easy to ride".
Is Hard One To Please the best horse you have trained?
"Yes, if you look at the talent alone, then he is. I have been fortunate enough to train several very good horses who have won two Derbys and many other big stakes. If his success continues, he will probably become one of the best".
Will you give Frankie Dettori any tactical advice?
"No, I never do and I don't think I need to. I will tell him how my horse is to ride and he will figure it out quickly".
How big would it be for you if Hard One To Please wins?
"It's always big to win the Stockholm Cup, but together with Dettori it would be huge. It's something I would never forget".
You also have Tareko racing in GS75-7, how good is she?
"She's a nice mare who has raced in tough races. If Ascot Brass has a good day, she should just win this race, but if she fails, then Takeko is among the ones that could surprise, she is no worse than any other horse is the field, at least".