Godolphin horses have edge - Dettori

Frankie Dettori believes Godolphin`s horses may have an edge over their rivals when they return to action at Newmarket later this week.

The team that was prepared in the warmth of the Dubai winter first sampled the dismal British spring conditions when limbering up on Newmarket Heath this morning.

Dettori, who rides Tobougg in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas on Saturday and Muwakleh in the 1000 Guineas 24 hours later, said: 'As you know with the Newmarket horses, it has only been the last two weeks that most of them have been able to go on the grass.

'A few horses have had trials, a few will go straight to the Guineas. We have had a very smooth preparation to the Guineas and I think there`s a little bit more of an advantage this year.

'But you have to take into account that all the horses in the Guineas are trained by fantastic trainers, and I`m sure that on the day they will be 100 per cent good horses. We might have a little bit of an advantage but I`m sure they`ll be doing plenty of homework for Saturday and Sunday.'

The Italian will be riding in the 2000 Guineas for the first time since he won the race for Godolphin on Island Sands two years ago.

Last year he rode in the Kentucky Derby, and would have been at Churchill Downs again this weekend but for the injury that keeps Street Cry out of the 'Run for the Roses'.

He has chosen to partner Tobougg, winner of the Prix de la Salamandre and the Darley Dewhurst Stakes for Mick Channon last year, over the horse that beat him in the trial at Nad Al Sheba, Rumpold, winner of an Ascot maiden for Paul Cole on his sole outing last July.

'Tobougg and Rumpold are both fairly good horses,' said Dettori. 'There`s nothing between the two. I`ve opted with Tobougg as he`s done it in the past. He`s won two Group Ones. Rumpold has won the trial, but he is only a maiden winner so I`ve opted for the horse that has got more experience.

'Tobougg has done all the work in Dubai and it is now a case of keeping him nice and healthy and getting there on Saturday in one piece.'

Dettori admitted to there being a large slice of guesswork in assessing Muwakleh, winner of the UAE 1000 Guineas, but untested in Europe.

He said: 'I rode Muwakleh in work in Dubai before she ran. She`s the best filly we got, but who is to say she is better than the others in Newmarket? She is more of a dark shot than the colts as we haven`t got any form whatsoever to compare her the others. She has only beaten our own fillies.'