Racing Newsgary Hind, understudy to the honeymooning Frankie Dettori, will attempt to forge a new partnership with St Leger winner Shantou in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. The jockey, a stalwart of the John Gosden team, has been handed the chance to hit the big time with the mount on the four-year-old following the Italian's switch to Singspiel in the Ascot race.
Dettori is recognised as the only jockey who can get on with the difficult Shantou - the likes of Michael Kinane and Pat Eddery are among those that have failed to gel with the colt. So Gosden has turned to Hind, who has partnered the horse once before and will be familiar with his idiosyncrasies, to take the reins.
It completed the outstanding riding arrangements for what is regarded as the race of the season. Ray Cochrane will partner outsider Strategic Choice.
Following Dettori's switch, Shantou was pushed out to 25 to 1 (from 16 to 1) by Ladbrokes yesterday as significant money poured on the Godolphin pair Predappio and Swain.
But Gosden, having been robbed of the services of Dettori, has resisted the idea of looking elsewhere for a race for Shantou. "I intend to run Shantou in the King George and Gary Hind will ride him," he said. Hind, who partnered Medaaly to win last year's Group One Racing Post Trophy, was considered for the Derby mount on Benny The Dip but lost out because Willie Ryan had more experience.
Significant betting activity yesterday underlined that the starstudded cast for the King George is catching punters' imaginations.
Ladbrokes reported "a turbulent day" with Predappio, conqueror of Pilsudski at Royal Ascot, receiving the strongest support. His price plummeted from 12 to 1 to 8 to 1 with the firm. He is the same odds with Coral from 14 to 1 and down to 13 to 2 (from 12 to 1) with William Hill.
Stablemate Swain is now a bestpriced 12 to 1 (from 16 to 1) while Kingfisher Mill is as low as 10 to 1 with Ladbrokes but a 14 to 1 chance with Coral.
The best prices are 13-8 Helissio, 9-4 Singspiel, 11-2 Pilsudski, 8-1 Predappio, 12-1 Swain, 14-1 Kingfisher Mill, 25-1 Shantou, 50-1 Strategic Choice.
King of Kings forced his way back to the top of the 2000 Guineas reckoning yesterday with Paddy Power elevating him to 1 to 1 joint favourite alongside Haami and Daggers Drawn. The muchhyped colt, trained by Aidan O'Brien, had been pushed out to 20-1 after losing his unbeaten record at the Curragh in the Anglesey Stakes earlier this month.
Jump jockey Norman Williamson looks set for a short spell on the sidelines after a fall at Worcester yesterday. The Corkman hit the deck when Raven's Roost slipped up leaving the back straight in the Champagne Handicap Hurdle.
Ted Durcan has taken the June award for the North of England Apprentice of the month. Jack Berry's Mayo-born apprentice, aged 24, made a powerful impression during a month in which he rode five winners.
