Dettori Confirmed for Noverre in Atto Mile

(From track report
Jockey Frankie Dettori will ride Noverre in next Sunday's $1 million Atto Mile (gr. IT) at Woodbine, it was confirmed Saturday by Godolphin Racing Manager Simon Crisford.

Dettori, along with Crisford and trainer Saeed bin Suroor, are expected to arrive in Toronto on the morning of the race. "We're probably running Grandera in Ireland on Saturday (Irish Champion Stakes)," said Crisford, "so I really don't know what the (travel) plans are yet."

Noverre, a half-brother to 1991 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Arazi, will arrive at Woodbine from England on Tuesday.

The bay son of Rahy is one of the likely favourites for the Atto Mile.

Although he hasn't won since last summer, when capturing the Group One Sussex Stakes, Noverre has been hooking some of the top horses in Europe. Most recently he was third to Nayef and Golan in the Group One Juddmonte International. He also has three other runner-up finishes in Group 1 events this year.

BAILEY TO RIDE DEL MAR SHOW

Trainer Bill Mott, who won the inaugural Atto Mile with longshot Geri in 1997, confirmed that multiple stakes winner Del Mar Show will be ridden by Jerry Bailey.

"We'll probably ship (from Saratoga) Wednesday or Thursday," said Mott.

Del Mar Show, a 5-year-old son of 1987 Breeders' Cup Turf winner Theatrical, who was also trained by Mott, comes into the Atto fresh from an excellent effort in the July 26 Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.

It was his third win in five starts this year. His only poor effort came in the Grade 1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes in March at Nad Al Sheba, when he finished 10th.

NUCLEAR DEBATE WORKS; STEVENS UP

Herrick Racing's Nuclear Debate worked in preparation for next Sunday's Atto Mile, drilling a bullet six furlongs at Del Mar on Saturday morning.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove two bone chips from his right knee, was aboard the 7-year-old for the workout, which was timed in 1:14.80, handily, over a firm turf course. Stevens has also been engaged to ride
Nuclear Debate in the Atto Mile.

"He worked in company with two Grade 1 winners in Janet and Kerry Gold," said trainer Darrell Vienna. "He broke off a little behind them and ran them down in the stretch. He actually finished ahead of the other two but it wasn't race riding by any means. I was very pleased with the work. That's all he'll do before shipping up to Woodbine on Thursday."

Nuclear Debate has 11 wins, over a million dollars in earnings, and a perfect one-for-one record at Woodbine, winning the Nearctic Stakes in June.

DUMAANI STAR WILL HAVE METTLE TESTED

After contesting his first two career starts over a sloppy track (sixth and fourth, respectively), Dumaani Star will once again have his mettle tested when he takes on some of the world's top turf performers in the Atto Mile. And while the toteboard might not show it, trainer Danny Yu is convinced the son of Dumaani will hold his own.

"I always thought he was going to do well on the grass and he did that in his first start on the turf," said Yu, of the dark bay who won the first-ever WWE race at Woodbine (July 20). "He'll be coming from off the pace in the Atto Mile and hopefully, he'll be able to come up with a strong, late move."

Yu relishes the thought of Dumaani Star replicating the upset score of 82-1 longshot T J's Lucky Moon in this year's Queen's Plate.

"I know there are a lot of very good horses coming in for this race, but I like the way my horse has improved," said Yu. "It will be tough, but I think we have a chance to do well."

Jim McAleney gets the riding call.