Jamie Spencer has been provisionally booked by Godolphin to partner Moon Ballad in the Vodafone Derby, Godolphin's official website has announced. Moon Ballad booked his place at Epsom on Saturday week when making all the running to win the Group Two Convergent Dante Stakes at York under an inspired Spencer ride. He is a 20-1 shot with William Hill.
Spencer has yet to win an English classic but he landed his second Entenmann's Irish 1000 Guineas on Gossamer on Sunday following his success on Tarascon four years ago. His booking by Godolphin appears to end speculation that his Derby bow would be on which of Aidan O'Brien's main contenders, Hawk Wing or High Chaparral, rejected by Michael Kinane.
Godolphin's retained jockey Frankie Dettori is set to stick with 12-1 chance Naheef. He was only 14th in the 2000 Guineas, but he made a winning debut over over seven furlongs of the Derby course last July.
Filed by Laura Reynolds
