Pat Eddery will renew his association with Indian Lodge in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on Saturday week, it was announced yesterday. The 11-time champion jockey recorded his first Group One victory of the season on Amanda Perrett's four-year-old in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp earlier this month.
Eddery has ridden two winners at the Breeders' Cup. He won the Turf on Pebbles at Aqueduct in 1985 and the Sprint on Sheikh Albadou at Churchill Downs six years later.
It was also announced yesterday that Frankie Dettori will ride Crimplene in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. The Clive Brittain-trained filly, owned by Sheikh Marwan Al Maktoum, has been ridden in her last seven races, which include three Group One victories in the Irish 1000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes, by Philip Robinson.
However, Brittain explained: "She runs under the Darley banner and Frankie is the Darley jockey."
Crimplene has arrived in the United States and the Newmarket trainer said: "She has travelled very well. She had a long journey but she had a full feed on the flight and drank her water which was good."
Brittain is happy with the way the filly's preparation have gone. He said: "Philip rode her in her final work and she went well. He was very pleased with her.
"She'll be racing on dirt which shouldn't be a problem and she'll be schooled in the stalls over there."
Mutafaweq is the first of the Godolphin's Breeders' Cup team to arrive in Kentucky.
Last year's St Leger winner, who took the Canadian International at Woodbine earlier this month, flew from Toronto to Louisville and immediately went into quarantine.
The four-year-old is being aimed at Saturday week's Turf, in which he is set to be joined by stable-companion Fantastic Light.
Meanwhile Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus delighted trainer Neil Drysdale in an early-morning course workout.
"He went well," Drysdale said of the colt who is Coral's 2 to 1 favourite for the Classic. "He looked like he was enjoying himself."
Star French colt Montjeu could be set to bid to recapture earlier glories at the Breeders' Cup meeting. The John Hammond-trained four-year-old, impressive winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in July, is reportedly to be aimed at the Turf race if he pleases in a workout tomorrow.
Retirement had appeared to beckon for last year's European champion but part-owner Michael Tabor said: "We have kept the options open and a final decision will be made on Thursday."
If he takes his chance Montjeu is set to face a rematch with Kalanisi who beat him half a length into second place in the Champion Stakes.