Ed Bethell hopes calling on "man of the moment" Frankie Dettori can help him make an instant impact in the United States when the trainer breaks new ground in the Mint Millions Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6.
The English-based Bethell, who won the Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) with Regional two years ago, will have his first runner in the U.S. when Point Lynas goes in Saturday's lucrative contest. He is part of a two-strong team for Britain alongside the Alice Haynes-trained Cairo, both of whom race for $1.5 million of the race's $2.5 million purse. ($1 million of the advertised prize money is a supplement reserved for Kentucky-breds.)
Bethell has booked Dettori, who has already enjoyed a remarkable Kentucky Downs meeting. He took the $2.6 million Nashville Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) on Wimbledon Hawkeye for James Owen Aug. 30, before landing a four-timer a day later, capped by victory in the $946,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint Stakes on Johnny's Red Storm.
Dettori partnered 10 winners from 109 rides in Britain for Bethell's father James before he took over the license four years ago, and the trainer hopes the red-hot rider could be the key to lucrative success.
"We've booked the man of the moment, which is exciting," Bethell said. "I don't think he's ridden for me since I took over, but his record speaks for itself.
"It's our first runner in America, and that's hugely exciting. Competing on the big stage in different countries is what you want to be doing, especially for the amount of money we'll be running for. It's really cool to tick it off and it's given the yard a bit of a buzz."
Point Lynas finished last in a listed race at Pontefract in July on his most recent start, but had nearly pulled off a remarkable victory in Ascot's Summer Mile (G2) before then. He built up a huge lead before being run down late by Never So Brave.
The winner boosted that form when landing the City of York Stakes (G1) Aug. 23, while Point Lynas was runner-up in a local group 2 in Qatar on his previous start outside of Britain in February.
Bethell said, "He's traveled over well, which is the first main thing to overcome. Fingers crossed he can run well, and we don't want it to rain too much. We've targeted this for a while as he loves fast ground, so we're hoping he can run a big race."
The trainer added that star sprinter Regional will not run again this year. The King Charles III Stakes (G1) third was a tailed-off last in the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes on his most recent outing.
