Trainer Ed Walker has confirmed that Frankie Dettori will replace Tom Marquand on board English King in next month’s Investec Derby.
Marquand has steered English King to successive victories at Newcastle and Lingfield, however, owner Bjorn Neilsen has opted to go with the more experienced Italian for the Investec Derby.
The three-year-old put himself in the frame as a contender for the premier Classic when sealing a victory by two-and-three-quarter-lengths at Lingfield earlier this month.
Walker admits it was a tough call to drop Marquand but feels Dettori’s big race experience can make the difference at Epsom.
“Frankie is going to ride English King in the Derby. I feel desperately sorry for Tom, and it is absolutely no reflection of our faith and trust in his ability,” Walker told PA.
“Bjorn and I mulled it over and watched all the trials, and it became increasingly clear John (Gosden) wasn’t going to have a Derby runner. After Tom won on the horse at Lingfield he asked if he’d keep the ride in the Derby, and I said to him ‘your only danger is Frankie’.
“Frankie obviously has a wealth of big-race experience and raises his game to stratospheric heights for the big races. We feel very privileged to have him on board.”
