By Jon Lees
Frankie Dettori has ticked another item off his US bucket list - by finding a horse to ride in the £4million Kentucky Derby.
The superstar jockey made riding in America’s biggest horse races one of his goals when he moved full-time to the US at the end of last year. His ultimate ambition is to win the world famous ‘Run for the Roses’ at Churchill Downs on May 4.
The 53-year-old Dettori had hoped a ride would emerge at his new base in California but one of his biggest supporters Bob Baffert remains banned from Churchill Downs, and the other challengers are spoken for.
He will team up with Society Man, a 40-1 chance with William Hill, who is trained by Danny Gargan, who is also set to saddle Dornoch.
"I'm excited to have him," Gargan told DRF.com . "He's riding great. I know it's a race he wants to be in and a race he wants to win."
Society Man has won one of his five starts and qualified for the race with a second place finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct last time at odds of 106-1.
Dettori is the most decorated rider in the world having won nearly all the sport’s biggest races.
On his last appearance in the race, Dettori steered Godolphin’s China Visit into sixth place at a time when the race was a priority target for Sheikh Mohammed.
With the race clashing with the 2,000 Guineas in Britain, he had not returned since but has made himself available for mounts since leaving his home of 32 years last year to extend his career, having performed a u-turn on plans to retire.
He quickly endeared himself to a US audience by riding 34 winners this year, including a six-timer at Santa Anita this month.
