'Magic man' Dettori rides Maven in Goodwood's Molecomb Stakes

Maven, the first of American Pharoah’s progeny to win a stakes race, will look to go 3-for-3 in his young career on Wednesday while acquiring services of one of Europe’s top jockeys.

Frankie Dettori will be aboard for the Molecomb Stakes, a Group 3 event run as part of England’s Goodwood Festival of races.

The five-furlong event heads postward at 10 a.m. ET, and NBC Sports Network will broadcast it for the first time during a two-hour window. According to a track news release, NBC has produced a story about Maven to coincide with its coverage. TVG will also carry the Molecomb.

Dettori picked up this mount after Maven won on debut going 4 1/2 furlongs April 19 on Aquedut’s dirt, then bypassed a Royal Ascot start due to soft going. Trainer Wesley Ward, notorious for having his 2-year-olds ready to sprint, sent Maven out for a narrow victory in Chantilly’s June 29 Prix du Bois (G3).

Ward said the next day he expects to use the Molecomb as a prep for the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park.

“So long as he runs a credible race, I’ll probably get him back here,” the trainer said of his Keeneland base, “give him a little time to get over the races in Europe and the shipping and train him into the race.”

Overseas bookmakers have established Maven as either the favorite or second choice in the Molecomb’s current field of 11. His main competition figures to come from Liberty Beach, who’s 3-for-4 with his only defeat when fourth in a massive field in Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary (G3).

That day, Dettori, aboard Raffle Prize, out-dueled the Ward-trained Kimari for top honors. This time, Dettori and Ward will team up.

“The horse is in great form,” Ward told RacingTV.com. “He’s been training really well, so we’ve just got to hope there’s not much rain.

“…We’ve got the right man on board anyway, the magic man Frankie, so we’ll see what happens.”

Dettori, fresh off riding Enable to a victory last weekend in the King George (G1), amassed seven Royal Ascot victories, including four in a row to open a memorable Thursday at last month’s meeting. Unibet, official partner of Goodwood, established him as an 11-10 favorite to lead that festival as well entering Tuesday’s opening card.

Perhaps Maven will add to his tally. The colt, out of the Any Given Saturday mare Richie’s Party Girl, will travel the same five-furlong distance as in the Prix du Bois, where he just managed to hold off a late charge. Maven will wear the No. 1 saddle towel and break from post 7.