Rab Havlin leans on Frankie Dettori for Derby guidance as he prepares for biggest race of his career after replacing Callum Shepherd on Ambiente Friendly


  • Rab Havlin turns to Frankie Detorri as he prepares for biggest race of his career
  • Havlin has replaced Callum Shepheard on Ambiente Friendly for Betfred Derby
  • The Scot has ridden more than 1,200 winners but ridden twice in the Derby

Rab Halvin has turned to Frankie Dettori for guidance as he prepares for the biggest ride of his career in next week’s Betfred Derby.

Havlin is a respected figure in the weighing room and a key member of John and Thady Gosden’s Clarehaven stables but rarely finds himself in the spotlight. 

That changed this week, though, when it was decided he would replace Callum Shepherd on Ambiente Friendly.

Shepherd had ridden the James Fanshawe-trained colt for owners, the Gredley family, when he was a smart winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial but he was devastated to learn he had lost responsibility to steer Ambiente Friendly, who has been propelled into second favourite, around Epsom.

Contrast his situation to Havlin. Last Saturday, his opportunism enabled outsider Audience to pilfer the Group One Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and at Sandown on Thursday, he again showed himself to be in outstanding form when producing Sweet William perfectly to win the Henry II Stakes.

Robert Havlin will turn to Frankie Dettori for advice on the biggest race of his career

Robert Havlin will turn to Frankie Dettori for advice on the biggest race of his career

Dettori had 28 Derby rides, winning on Authorized and Golden Horn and has spoken with Havlin ahead of the race

Dettori had 28 Derby rides, winning on Authorized and Golden Horn and has spoken with Havlin ahead of the race 

Havlin has replaced Callum Shepherd to ride Ambiente Friendly for next week's Derby

Havlin has replaced Callum Shepherd to ride Ambiente Friendly for next week’s Derby 

The Scot, who is 50, has ridden more than 1200 winners in his career but he’s only had two rides in the Derby – outsiders Sevenna Star (50/1) was tenth in 2018, Humanitarian (33/1) was seventh the following year – and that has led him to pick up the phone to Dettori.

Dettori had 28 Derby rides, winning on Authorized and Golden Horn, and from his base in California on Thursday, he discussed some situations with his old friend. Havlin, who partnered Ambiente Friendly in two canters up Warren Hill in Newmarket yesterday, intends to talk with him again.

‘I spoke to Frankie when I was on my way to Sandown,’ said Havlin, who intends to spend the next week watching re-runs of past Derbies. 

Havlin has ridden more than 1200 winners in his career but he’s only had two rides in the Derby

Havlin has ridden more than 1200 winners in his career but he’s only had two rides in the Derby

‘We had a really good chat and the thing in this game is that you are never too old to learn.

‘Frankie was talking to me about the things that Lester (Piggott) had passed down to him and it is keeping that all on board. 

It has been a week when it felt like I have got six lottery numbers. I have sympathy for Callum but I’m not listening to anything that is being said about the situation.

‘I won’t let any of it distract me. I have got a job to do and I am going to try to do it to the best of my ability.’



Source link