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Frankie Dettori Joins Great Britain Team for Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup! 05/08/08

Two days after South African-born Kevin Pietersen leads out the England cricket team for the first time, Frankie Dettori, the Italian superstar of the British racing scene will be representing his adopted homeland in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.

“I’m delighted to be riding in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup again,” said Dettori.

“Obviously I’m changing teams having ridden for Europe last year but I have lived here for 25 years and been British Champion Jockey three times so I think I’m pretty well qualified to join Hayley and Seb on the home team! I’m claiming dual nationality – my Arsenal shirt is my passport!”

With Ryan Moore unable to ride in Saturday’s international jockeys’ competition at Ascot, a vacancy arose for the final place on the Great Britain team.

“Ryan’s confirmation of commitments elsewhere coincided with a call from Frankie’s agent to let us know that Godolphin were unexpectedly able to release him, so everything fell into place really,” said Nick Smith, Head of Public Relations at Ascot.

“Having won all five British Classics, ridden 39 Royal Ascot winners and lived here almost all his working life, if anyone can justifiably claim to have a foot in two camps, Frankie can.

“The reality is that Ascot means Frankie and to most people, Frankie means racing. For a day like the Shergar Cup, with literally thousands of kids and first time racegoers here, we’d be letting people down if we didn’t grab this opportunity to let racing’s greatest public asset take the stage. It’s particularly gratifying and says a great deal about the progress of the event that he is so keen to ride.”

Confirmed Teams:

Great Britain: Hayley Turner (captain), Frankie Dettori, Seb Sanders

Ireland: Jamie Spencer (captain), Richard Hughes, Kevin Manning

Europe: Gerald Mosse (captain), Mirco Demuro, Halis Karatas

Rest of the World: Yutaka Take (captain), Russell Baze, Jorge Ricardo