Godolphin Face No Further Charges

Godolphin's Moulton Paddocks stable faces no further doping charges after an inquiry concluded banned trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni operated alone.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) found no evidence that anyone other than Al Zarooni was involved in the distribution of anabolic steroids.

However, the BHA said "structural and procedural deficiencies" at the stable in Newmarket must be addressed.

Al Zarooni is serving an eight-year banafter 22 horses tested positive.

Charlie Appleby, Al Zarooni's assistant, has assumed control of Moulton Paddocks with immediate effect and has already begun implementing some procedural changes alongside fellow Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor.

The BHA said it was happy Appleby had no knowledge of Al Zarooni's wrongdoings.

Paul Bittar, chief executive of the BHA, said: "The investigation process has been a complex and challenging one. However, I am satisfied that the conclusions reached are an accurate reflection of events.

"Fortunately cases such as this - both in terms of scale and profile - are incredibly rare, however there are areas where we can learn from the issues raised."

The scandal - described as the biggest in racing history - became public on 22 April when Godolphin issued a statement in which it said 11 horses, including unbeaten 1000 Guineas contender Certify, had tested positive and Al Zarooni admitted a "catastrophic error".

At a subsequent disciplinary hearing, the trainer was banned for eight years after also admitting to doping another four horses.

Seven more racehorses trained by Al Zarooni then failed tests for anabolic steroids on 20 May, including 2012 St Leger winner Encke.

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Dettori to leave Godolphin

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Frankie Dettori is to leave Godolphin after being retained rider to Sheikh Mohammed's operation for 18 years, it was announced today.

The Italian jockey rode nine English Classic winners for Godolphin and partnered the great Dubai Millennium to glory in the Dubai World Cup of 2000.

Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said: "We have had a tremendous association with Frankie over many years. He has achieved so much.

"However, Frankie is looking for a fresh challenge and we felt that the retainer was not really working so this is the best way forward.

"We have had many great days together and we look forward to working with Frankie in the future and hopefully enjoying more success together.

"He remains a great friend - the difference next year will be that he will not be our retained jockey and will operate as a freelance instead," he told www.godolphin.com.

Dettori, who rode Godolphin's first Classic winner, Balanchine, in 1994 and has been associated with many of the stable's top horses since then, said: "I have had 18 wonderful years.

"Godolphin has been a major part of everything I have achieved in racing and I have loved every minute of it.

"I feel the time has come for a change. My position in the stable has changed a little bit and I need a new challenge.

"Sheikh Mohammed has been an unbelievable boss to me. He had the confidence to take me on board when I was young and we smashed every record together.

"I will be forever grateful to him for everything he has done for me and for my family."

Dettori, winner of 110 Group or Grade One races in the royal blue silks, thanked the many Godolphin staff who had helped him to achieve the success he has enjoyed with the stable.

"The whole team have been fantastic - none of it would have been possible without them," he said.

Godolphin's retained riders in 2013 will be Mickael Barzalona and Silvestre de Sousa.

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Frankie Colour Vision at Ascot

Colour Vision and Frankie Dettori survived a stewards' inquiry as they held off fellow Godolphin runner Opinion Poll to take top honours in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

The Italian rider had to choose between the pair earlier this week and many saw it as a surprise when he sided with Saeed bin Suroor's Colour Vision over the more established Opinion Poll.

Dettori settled the 6-1 chance on the heels of the leaders for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey and quickened up well in the straight to take the lead.

Opinion Poll came from further back with a big challenge under Mickael Barzalona, but former Mark Johnston inmate Colour Vision held on by half a length.

The front two did come close together, but although the stewards immediately called an inquiry, the placings remained unaltered.

But while Aidan O'Brien's odds-on shot travelled nicely into the straight, he could not pick up from further back and was ultimately well beaten.

Formerly with Mark Johnston, Colour Vision had made an impressive debut for Bin Suroor in the rearranged Sagaro Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton, and Dettori clearly felt he was open to more progress than Opinion Poll, who was second in the race 12 months ago.

A further neck away from the Godolphin duo in third was the John Oxx-trained Saddler's Rock.

Like the winner, he ran an excellent race for a four-year-old, especially considering how hard he pulled in the early stages.

Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the Godolphin operation, was delighted to claim a one-two.

He said: "Whatever happened, they are two very good horses that finished first and second and that's a good thing.

"You have to wait a year to prepare your horse to come here and even the second horse ran a great race."

Of Dettori and Barzalona, he said: "They are two good jockeys. Frankie is great and Mikael is coming up this year."

Dettori Not Retiring Despite Epsom

Frankie Dettori insists he has no plans to retire from horse racing despite failing to secure a ride in the Epsom Derby.

Dettori will ride at Haydock on Saturday instead in a move that prompted a claim on Twitter he is quitting the sport.

The former Derby-winning rider lost his status as Goldolphin's only retained jockey this year.

He told the Racing Post "I've got at least five more years in me."

"I'm only 41 and would challenge any jockey to a one-on-one."

It is the first time in 20 years Dettori does not have a ride in the Derby apart from in 2000 when he was recovering after being involved in a plane crash.

Goldolphin are not fielding a runner in the race and Dettori also lost out to Mickael Barzalona for the seat on Godolphin's only entry in Epsom Oaks, the unbeaten filly Kailani.

Barzalona and Silvestre de Sousa now rival Dettori for rides at Goldolphin.

He added: "I'm a soldier in a team. I do what I'm told. The boss has the power to decide who rides and I've been a good soldier for the past 18 years.

"Mickael got the ride in the Oaks on the word of the boss (Sheikh Mohammed) and Mahmood Al Zarooni.

"Nevertheless, I then got a call from Coolmore asking if I could ride in the Oaks. The boss said I could if I wanted to. As it happened nothing came of it but it shows I'm in demand."

Dettori has produced 13 winners in his 92 rides this season.

Monterosso Wins Dubai World Cup

Monterosso has won the $10m (£6.3m) Dubai World Cup, the world's richest horse race.

The Godolphin-owned horse, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, finished third in 2011 but showed a burst of pace to move away from favourite So You Think, who started strongly alongside Transcend.

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation enjoyed a one-two as Capponi finished second, albeit a long way behind the five-year-old.

Planteur was third, half a length back.

Daddy Long Legs won the $2m (£1.25m)UAE Derby earlier on Saturday, with better-fancied stable companion Wrote third in the Group Two race at Meydan.

Colm O'Donoghue sent the Aidan O'Brien-trained Daddy Long Legs into the lead as the field turned for home after Helmet had set a scorching pace.

Ryan Moore followed him through on Wrote but could not close the gap and had to settle for third, with Yang Tse Kiang filling second spot.

Cirrus Des Aigles held off a late challenge from his main rival St Nicholas Abbey to win the $5m (£3.1m) Dubai Sheema Classic , while Cityscape took the $5m (£3.1m) Dubai Duty Free , setting a course record to beat Mutahadee and City Style by more than four lengths.

Previous Dubai winners

2011 - Victoire Pisa

2010 - Gloria de Campeao

2009 - Well Armed

2008 - Curlin

2007 - Invasor

O'Brien and Godolphin Dominate Entries

Trainer Aidan O'Brien and the Godolphin team dominate a 70-strong entry for the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6.

O'Brien is responsible for 10 of the possibles at this stage, including the unbeaten filly Maybe, winner of the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes on her final outing last term.

The Ballydoyle handler, who saddled Virginia Waters to victory in 2005, also has eyecatching Rockfel Stakes winner Wading in his team at this stage along with relatively unknown quantities such as Kissed and Twirl and Breeders' Cup fourth Up.

Godolphin claimed the prize with Blue Bunting in 2011 and have leading hopes in the unbeaten duo of Discourse and Lyric Of Light.

Discourse's two victories both came on Newmarket's July Course and included the Group Three Sweet Solera Stakes, while Lyric Of Light's three successes culminated with a victory over the course and distance in the Group One Fillies' Mile last September.

Another Godolphin entry is last year's Cherry Hinton Stakes heroine Gamilati, who already has a Guineas victory to her name, having taken the UAE version in great style at Meydan last month.

All of Godolphin's contenders are trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni.

Barzalona Joins Godolphin

Mickael Barzalona has joined Godolphin's jockey ranks for the new season.

The 20-year-old, one of the rising stars in Europe, first came to prominence when winning the Investec Derby aboard Pour Moi last season.

He joins Frankie Dettori and Silvestre de Sousa as retained jockeys for Sheikh Mohammed's team.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford told www.godolphin.com: "It is tremendous news that one of the world's most talented riders, Mickael Barzalona, is joining Godolphin.

"He will work together with Frankie and Silvestre as a team of jockeys for the horses trained by Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni. They will all share the rides."

Andre Fabre has overseen Barzalona's development while he also been second jockey to owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer.

Barzalona added: "I would very much like to thank the Wertheimers for all their support and help over the last few years. Andre Fabre has been a great mentor and winning the Epsom Derby for him was very special - I owe him everything.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to ride full time for Godolphin, which is the world's most international stable, and I am really looking forward to working alongside Frankie and Silvestre."

De Sousa Joins Godolphin Stable

Brazilian-born jockey Silvestre De Sousa is to join Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin stable.

De Sousa, who currently lives in Yorkshire, will relocate to Newmarket and ride alongside Frankie Dettori.

The 31-year-old was a narrow second to Paul Hanagan in the race to be champion jockey last year.

"He will be a big asset to our team and we are very much looking forward to a successful association," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

Last year De Sousa, who won 161 races to Hanagan's 165, struck up a good relationship with Middleham trainer Mark Johnston, who trains a large string for Sheikh Mohammed's son, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

De Sousa joined the stable at the start of the Dubai World Cup Carnival in early January.

"We now have a formal arrangement in place with Silvestre and we are delighted that he will be riding for our stable this year," added Crisford.

"He made a great impression when he was with Mark Johnston last season and he has enjoyed a lot of success at this year's carnival."

Godolphin are expected to have more than 400 horses in training for the 2012 flat racing season.

Speaking to www.godolphin.com De Sousa, who had been linked with the Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum job soon to be vacated by Richard Hills, added: "It is a fantastic opportunity for me to be riding for the Godolphin team and I am really looking forward to the European season ahead."

Flat Jockeys Championship 2011

1 - Paul Hanagan

2 - Silvestre De Sousa

3 - Kieren Fallon

4 - Richard Hughes

5 - William Buick

6 - Jamie Spencer

7 - Ryan Moore

8 - Tom Queally

9 - Neil Callan

10 - Tom Eaves