Frankie Dettori to ride top US two-year-old filly on first visit to Japan for five years

Frankie Dettori is heading to Japan for the first time in five years.

The superstar rider who is now based in the US has agreed to ride North America's best two-year-old filly on turf in the £330,000 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on December 8.

The filly May Day Ready is one of only five horses trained in New York by Joseph Lee who is enjoying his best season since reestablishing a stable four years ago.

She has won three out of four to date, ridden each time by Dettori who has known Lee from his days as a Godolphin assistant.

May Day Ready completed a hat-trick of wins when she landed a valuable Grade 2 race at Kentucky Downs in October.

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Then she found only Aidan’s O’Brien’s star filly Lake Victoria too good for her when finishing a length and a half behind the European champion in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf at Del Mar this month.

The performance convinced Lee to put her forward for a trip to Japan where the trainer spent ten years working for his father-in-law, retired trainer Takemi Kaga.

Announcing his plan on X, Lee wrote: “After discussing May Day Ready’s future with Mr and Mrs Doyle and George Barnes, the decision has officially been made to ship her to Japan to run her in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on December 8.

“Having been fortunate to have travelled to Japan numerous times over the years with Godolphin, this time will be different, as I return as a trainer.

“We are thrilled and fortunate to have the opportunity to take such a talented filly to Japan.”

On Monday, Lee declared: “It’s official, will travel to Japan to ride May Day Ready for the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies on December 8.”

Dettori visited Japan many times in the past where his 16 winners include three in the Japan Cup on Singspiel in 1996, Falbrav (2002) and Alkaased (2005).

His next appearance will be his first since 2019 when he rode six winners during a short stay, after an eight year absence.