Falbrav, on track in Hong Kong.
International star jockey Frankie Dettori, who incurred a twisted ankle during the first leg of the International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse Wednesday night, was on track at Sha Tin Racecourse Friday morning to put Hong Kong Cup (HK-I) favorite Falbrav through a leg-stretching gallop.Dettori also piloted Italian-based runner Maktub for a tour of the all-weather dirt track. Maktub goes in the 1 1/2-mile Hong Kong Vase (HK-I).Dettori, a two-time winner of the IJC, jumped off his mount Champion Speed after the Danehill gelding broke down turning for home. He was taken to a hospital for X-rays as a precaution, but was back at his hotel later that evening. "It's good," Dettori said of his ankle. "I jump off horses all the time with no problem, and this time I land on my ankle."The Luca Cumani-trained Falbrav, an international runner who was third in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) in his last start, will be making his final start in the Cup before heading off to stud. The over-sized 5-year-old by Fairy King looked strong over the turf course. He had a general canter around the course on Thursday."The horse is great," Dettori said. "He's the biggest horse I've ever ridden. He's 550 kilos (1,210 pounds) but he moves like a gazelle."His form is second to none. He's powerful and strong¡Xjust a wonderful horse and he's proved his form all around the world."Falbrav figures to get his stiffest challenge in the 1 1/4-mile race from the Michael Jarvis-trained Rakti, winner of the Champion Stakes (Eng-I) in his last start. "It's not a two-horse race," Dettori said. "It's a world championship race¡Xyou have to have eyes in the back of your head."
