Wimbledon Hawkeye teaming up with Dettori for Kentucky bid

James Owen is relishing linking up with Frankie Dettori when Wimbledon Hawkeye heads to America for the Nashville Derby later this month.

The son of Kameko – who won the Group Two Royal Lodge as a juvenile – gave William Haggas’ potential Arc contender Merchant a fright in Goodwood’s Gordon Stakes and his trainer feels the colt has all the attributes to thrive at Kentucky Downs in a $3.5million event won by Andrew Balding’s Bellum Justum 12 months ago.

Explaining the decision to head Stateside, Owen said: “After his good run at Goodwood we were invited over for the race and I think it looks ideal, the track will suit him.

“Bellum Justum won it last year after doing well in the Gordon Stakes and I think Wimbledon Hawkeye is the ideal horse for it really.

“He has a very good mind, he’ll travel over well and handle the whole experience well and he’s shown us this year how tough he is by holding his form really well.

“It’s great prize-money and hopefully he can go over there with a great chance.”

It will be a first runner in America for Owen, who will be hoping for kinder weather at the Franklin track than that which greeted Wimbledon Hawkeye at Goodwood recently.

And the icing on the cake for the Newmarket handler has been securing the services of Dettori, who was in fact aboard the victorious Bellum Justum last year and is no stranger to Wimbledon Hawkeye’s owners the Gredley family.

“It’s great that Frankie can ride him and he’s had a lot of success for the Gredleys before and even won the race last year on Bellum Justum,” continued Owen.

“We don’t have to take a jockey over which is another plus and having Frankie is a little cherry on top for us and a big part of the decision to go over, it’s lovely to have him.

“He’s never ridden for me, but I’m looking forward to it.”