Frankie Dettori ruled out of Royal Ascot

John Velazquez has been confirmed as Frankie Dettori’s replacement aboard the Wesley Ward-trained Lady Aurelia in the King’s Stand Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

Dettori ruled himself out of the Royal Ascot meeting after failing to recover from an arm injury.

He sustained the injury in a paddock fall at Yarmouth last Tuesday but rode Shutter Speed in the French Oaks on Sunday.

But Dettori said the injury was still troubling him and he would seek further treatment, meaning he will miss all five days of the Royal meeting.

“I’ve been trying so hard to get fit for today but had to accept this morning it wasn’t going to happen,” Dettori said in a statement to Ascot racecourse.

“I’ve got to have physio and get it properly looked after so won’t be at Ascot this week.

“For me that’s soul destroying as it’s the most important week of the year.”

Velazquez will also team up with Nootka Sound in Tuesday’s Windsor Castle Stakes with his original mount Elizabeth Darcy to be partnered by Edgar Prado.

Jamie Spencer will replace Dettori on the Luca Cumani-trained El Vip in Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup.