Planteur and Dettori to strike in Group 3 at Windsor

Frankie Dettori can enjoy Group race success for his new retainer when he teams up with Planteur on Saturday evening at Windsor. The son of Danehill Dancer followed up a win at Lingfield by finishing third in the Dubai World Cup.

His most recent start came in a Group One at Longchamp where he was beaten half a length by Maxios. He had the useful Mandour and Beauty Parlour behind him that day and is the class horse of the race.

Chil The Kite has so far failed to reproduce his home form on the racetrack but could be a threat if consenting to put his best foot forward. Al Waab chased home Royal Empire last time out and that form looks better after the latter won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

Dettori also has a chance in the supporting August Stakes at 7.15 when he partners Souviens Toi. The daughter of Dalakhani was not disgraced behind Wild Coco at Goodwood last time out.

However, the pick on overall form has to be last year’s Epsom Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star. Hughie Morrison’s filly showed little on her comeback at Newmarket in May but was much more her old self when third at the Curragh last time.

She was gaining all the way to the line in the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes and was just three-quarters of a length down on Ambivalent at the line. A reproduction of that effort would probably be good enough here.

Roger Charlton’s First Secretary can send Dettori’s followers home happy by taking the closing race at 7.45. She is beautifully bred by Nayef out of Spinning Queen and came good last time out when winning well at Bath.

Her handicap mark does not look too daunting and she can win this against some very exposed rivals. Jacob’s Pillow is by Oasis Dream out of the speedy Enticing and showed enough on his debut to warrant support in the opening maiden race at 5.10.

Selections: 5.10 Jacob’s Pillow, 5.45 Loved One, 6.15 Cruiser, 6.45 Planteur (NAP), 7.15 Shirocco Star (nb), 7.45 First Secretary