OCCASIONAL race-goers puzzled by the ever-increasing absence of Frankie Dettori from all but the major meetings will be glad to hear the chirpy Italian is fit and well, and on duty at York today.

Rather than charge around the country like a deranged lunatic in search of nondescript winners at the "gaff" tracks, Frankie prefers to spend more time at home with his wife and two young children.

Since he doesn't actually need the money anymore it's a sensible policy.

Nonetheless, seeing the master at work is always a pleasure and this afternoon Dettori has another major prize within his grasp aboard the unbeaten Kazzia (2.20) in the £250,000 Group 1 Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks.

Kazzia, originally trained in Germany as a two-year-old before being purchased by Godolphin after winning at San Siro in Milan, stormed onto the British Stage by burning off a class field in the one mile 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

Dettori was at his tactical best aboard the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained three-year-old, gradually winding up the pace from the front and then holding off all comers with unflinching courage under maximum pressure inside the final furlong.

Frankie was equally cunning over a further half-mile when landing the Oaks at Epsom in June, bagging the faster strip of ground against the stands' side rail in the home straight and maintaining his advantage all the way to the line.

Kazzia is undoubtedly a brilliant filly - the best of her generation, nevertheless she may well be tested to the limit on the Knavesmire by Sir Michael Stoute's Islington.

Islington is no stranger to success at York having scooted up in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at the May meeting, prior to flopping in the rain-softened ground behind Kazzia at Epsom.

The bitter taste of that defeat was not, however, to last long, since Islington came back to form with a bang in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Dettori's good day may well continue in the following £185,000 Tobe Ebor, one of the biggest betting races on the calendar.

Frankie has been booked to partner the ante-post favourite, Charley Bates (2.55), for the highly-sought after mile-and-three-quarter prize.

Franny Norton was in the saddle when the horse finished third to Jardines Lookout in the Goodwood Cup, but Dettori knows the gelding from old having ridden him as a juvenile.

The Ebor is traditionally the most fiercely competitive contest of its type run all season, and connections of Charley Bates will be dismayed at his wide outside draw in the 21 stall.

For sure it is a big disadvantage, but when the likes of John Gosden lays a horse out specifically for a race like the Ebor, his opponents better watch out.

Dettori's riches may not stop there either because he has fancied rides in both the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes and Costcutter Roses Stakes partnering Country Deel (3.30) and Lord Of The Inn (4.00) respectively.

David Loder has a massive choice of fabulously-bred youngsters to pick from, so his decision to run Country Deel warrants the greatest respect.

In search of a long priced nap selection, Matty Tun (5.05), a progressive sprinter with no weight at all in the closing Eventmasters Falmouth Handicap, gets the nod.

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