Dettori-Head : two greats going for a first

In sheer jockeyship terms, Lanfranco Dettori and Freddy Head have enjoyed a combined six wins in the Prix de Diane Longines (Gr1). However, on Sunday they will combine forces with Dettori partnering Luminate: one of two ‘Head’ representatives. The Italian is very happy to link up with his former weighing room colleague, who is still seeking his first success as a trainer in the Diane. He said: “I think that Luminate has a first class chance in a very open race. Freddy is a dab hand when it comes to training fillies as he invariably gets them in tip-top condition. They also go in to the race ‘fresh’ which is essential in a race such as the Prix de Diane.”

Frankie and Freddy teamed up to win the Prix du Muguet (Gr2) with Racinger in 2007. Lanfranco Dettori added: “The devil really is in the detail which can boil down to the having the best trip during the race or the progress that these fillies are capable of making on the big occasion. Luminate was unlucky last time and she certainly stays the 2.100m trip. She has an advantage compared to the foreign fillies in that she is playing ‘at home’. As the travel factor, taking into account above all the heat, is never an easy bridge to overcome.”