Who wants to earn £567,000 for two minutes’ work? Jockeys set to battle for huge Mostahdaf ride in the Juddmonte
THE RIDE on leading Juddmonte fancy Mostahdaf is up for grabs and a jockeys battle royale for the top spare is in the offing.
Mostahdaf’s regular pilot Jim Crowley will be on the sidelines after a controversial 20-day ban for his winning ride on Hukum in the King George.
Dane O’Neill is often the number two choice for Shadwell but he suffered a horror injury at Wolverhampton last month, which also rules him out of the race.
That leaves his owners and John and Thady Gosden with a big decision to make.
Jockeys will be clamouring for the ride and the chance to take on superstar three-year-old Paddington, who won the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Mostahdaf was impressive in the King George and looks to have a real chance of giving Paddington something to sweat about.
Ryan Moore is obviously out of contention as he’ll be riding Paddington, but could Frankie Dettori be an option?
The legendary Italian is looking to win it all on his farewell tour and although he wouldn’t be a regular on Shadwell horses, the Gosden’s will always vouch for Dettori.
There’s the caveat, however, that Dettori was previously booked for Desert Crown, who is also heading to York.
Godolphin have no representation in the race which opens up the options of William Buick and James Doyle.
Champion jockey Buick needs to introduction, while Doyle used to be the stable jockey at Gosden’s Newmarket outfit.
Rab Havlin has always been a Gosden go-to for second strings and his hat is also thrown in the ring.
We shouldn’t forget Benoit De La Sayette either, who was touted as Dettori’s replacement.
It’s probably too soon for him to be riding such a pressure horse at the top level, which perhaps leaves Kieran Shoemark.
He’s set to take over as Gosden’s stable jockey next year and this would be not better test of his credentials.
Coral have Paddington as the 7-4 favourite for the Juddmonte International on August 23.
Mostahdaf is 3-1 second-favourite, while last year’s Derby winner Desert Crown is 4-1.
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