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| Staff Writer |
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Frankie Dettori, who turned 50 last month, has been part of Dubai's racing landscape almost since its inception and has many Dubai World Cup trophies adorning his front of house, is to take his first rides of 2021 at Meydan later this week.
The jockey set for a prolonged winter stint in the UAE rode work in the midst of an amber weather warning for boss John Gosden in Newmarket last week.
Dettori who rode Global Giant to finish second in the Bahrain International Trophy in November plans to remain in Dubai for the carnival and hopes to link up with the Gosden-trained Dubai Warrior, who was shipped out to Meydan last week.
He also hopes to ride at the Saudi Cup meeting at Riyadh next month rather than return home, with the government closing all travel corridors to the UK from Monday as part of its latest coronavirus restrictions. Under these rules, Dettori would have to quarantine for at least seven days upon his return.
Dettori could also be reunited with the speedy A’Ali, who has options at the carnival and is already out at Meydan as part of Simon and Ed Crisford’s latest satellite operation.