RACING: Frankie Dettori is expected to be fit to ride Falbrav in the Hong Kong Cup on Sunday despite an injury scare at Happy Valley yesterday.
The Italian twisted his right ankle after his mount Champion Speed broke a leg and was pulled up in the first leg of the international jockeys' championship.
He was taken to the nearby Queen Mary Hospital for precautionary X-rays, but released later.
Winner of the title in 1999 and 2001, Dettori hurt himself when dismounting from the David Oughton-trained runner after the gelding clipped the heels of the horse in front as the field turned for home in the one-mile contest.
Falbrav's trainer Luca Cumani, who was at Happy Valley, believes Dettori will be fit enough to partner the five-year-old at the weekend. "I have spoken to Frankie. He thinks he has just twisted his ankle, and he should be okay," he said.
The first leg of the championship was won by Ace Academy, ridden by Australian Damien Oliver for Hong Kong's champion trainer John Size.
Oliver went on to take the title by one point, 20-19, from American-based Mexican-born rider Victor Espinoza. The Australian was making amends for his similar-margin defeat by Dettori two years ago.
