Frankie Dettori may have stolen the glory from Ryan Moore on Thursday at Royal Ascot but the rivalry will continue on Friday.
The old Italian master was at it again in his final Ascot Gold Cup on day three when he won the race for the ninth time in his incredible career in his swansong appearance before retirement.
But Moore, a mere 39-years-old compared to Dettori’s 52, can come back strongly on Friday when he has seven rides to extend his lead over Dettori at this year’s Royal meeting.
So far, Moore has four winners and Dettori has two. That means Moore has 77 Royal Ascot victories to his name going into Friday, while Dettori has 79.
Martika offers Moore fans an early opportunity in the Albany Stakes (2.30pm) after wining a maiden race at the Curragh at the start of the month.
Dettori rides Porta Fortuna, another maiden winner at the Curragh, before backing that up with victory at Naas last month.
The Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (3.05pm) sees Moore ride firm favourite and much-fancied Little Big Bear, a seven-length winner of the Phoenix Stakes last year who returned from injury this season to win comfortably again at Haydock.
Lezoo will be the Dettori mount, a winner of the Cheveley Park at Newmarket but a distant eighth over a mile at the 1000 Guineas.
Moore’s chance in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (3.40pm) comes on board Okita Soushi, twice a winner at Dundalk in February.
Dettori sits out this one, but the challenge to Moore is likely to come from Al Nafir and Teumessias.
Moore also has a Frankie-free race in the other featured race, the Coronation Stakes (4.20pm), where he rides Meditate, one of only seven runners, where the form points towards Tahiyra.
The Sandringham Stakes (5.00pm) sees 30 runners with Coppice the Dettori choice, a winner in two of her three runs so far.
Moore rides Jackie Oh, another Aidan O’Brien three-year-old held in high regard after impressing in Ireland.
The final Moore-Dettori head-to-head on Friday is in the King Edward V11 Stakes (5.35pm). Dettori is on Arrest, a winner at Chester in May and with a first at Ffos Las back in September.
Continuous is Moore’s sixth ride of the day, less impressive this year than last season and likely to find stiff competition from King of Steel, the firm favourite here after a second-place finish at the Derby three weeks ago.
The hard-working Moore’s final ride is on Hispanic, who may find it tough going after recent disappointments at both Doncaster and York.
