Top American jockey Gary Stevens is set to step in for the plum mount on Johannesburg in Saturday's Kentucky Derby with Jerry Bailey booked for stable companion Castle Gandolfo.
The ride on Johannesburg became available when regular partner Michael Kinane was banned at Newmarket earlier this month.
On their arrival in Kentucky later today the Aidan O'Brien-trained duo will undergo a 48-hour quarantine period at Keeneland following the trip and will travel to Churchill Downs on Saturday morning.
Godolphin's challenger for the Run for the Roses, Essence Of Dubai worked over five furlongs this morning under exercise rider Lee Roebuck.
"I thought he went very well," said Tom Albertrani, assistant to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. "It looked like he was finishing up today a little better than he did the other day and he galloped out good, so we are pretty happy with that work."