World Cup winning jockey picks up Shamexpress July Cup ride
Godolphin No 1 rider Mickael Barzalona has been picked up the exciting spare ride on Australian hope Shamexpress in Saturday's Darley July Cup.
There has been something of a jockey merry-go-round for the mount after the sprinter's regular partner Craig Newitt decided not to return to Britain after their outing at Royal Ascot.
Danny O'Brien's colt was ninth to Sole Power in the King's Stand Stakes but his biggest victory so far has been at six furlongs, achieved in his most recent Australian outing in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.
Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore were both in the frame, but O'Brien said:
"We've got Mickael Barzalona to ride him. He's going to come and have a sit on the horse on the July course tomorrow, and we're very pleased to have him."
Barzalona is looking for his first British Group 1 of the year, and Shamexpress is currently a 16/1 chance.
Mike de Kock believes he has little to lose by trying King's Stand runner-up and ante-post favourite Shea Shea at six furlongs for his rematch with Sole Power.
Although a multiple winner over the longer sprint trip in South Africa, his two latest successes since moving from Geoff Woodruff to De Kock have been at the minimum distance in Dubai.
"Shea Shea has done a fair bit more work since he was beaten by Sole Power at Royal Ascot, which will definitely help him," the trainer said.
"At Ascot he had only been in proper work for five weeks following a month of quarantine. He still did everything but win and was only beaten by a very good horse. Shea Shea's best and classiest form has been over five furlongs but we have come a long way and we might as well have a go. You never know until you try.
"For South African racing and breeding and for myself, to be competitive in a race like the July Cup means a lot. To win it would be something special."
Others among the 15 to stand their ground in a truly international line-up are American Havelock and Fawzi Nass's Bahraini star Krypton Factor. Clive Cox has engaged fifth-placed Reckless Abandon as well as his impressive Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Lethal Force.
Sole Power's trainer Eddie Lynam has Slade Power in the field too, with Aidan O'Brien able to pick from Reply and his Jersey Stakes winner Gale Force Ten.
James Fanshawe's Society Rock, the 2011 Jubilee hero who was second this time, is another notable inclusion while Michael Bell could step Sovereign Debt down in trip down from a mile. The colt was second to Farhh in the Lockinge but could not replicate the effort in the Queen Anne Stakes.
King's Stand third Pearl Secret was the most notable absentee at Monday's confirmation stage.
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