Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and other top jockeys who will ride the Arc card at Longchamp over the weekend, will now not have to miss Newmarket’s Future Champions Weekend after the BHA on Tuesday evening confirmed an addition to its Elite Traveller Exemption protocols.
Some riders were adversely affected by the late change in protocols. Originally Andrea Atzeni was tabbed by John Gosden to pilot Stradivarius in the Arc after as expected Frankie Dettori opted to stay with Enable. Gosden booked Olivier Peslier on Stradivarius as the old quarantine protocols would have forced Atzeni to miss rides in the UK at newmarket he already had booked. Oisin Murphy had stated the riders were lobbying for an ease in restrictions based on more extensive testing to keep things safe but allow them not to miss important engagements. It appears reason prevailed.
Under the new protocol, which is effective immediately, jockeys, trainers and stable staff who make frequent trips abroad for competition at Covid-19 secure venues in non-exempt countries may choose to register for a ‘frequent private traveller’ option. This can allow Gosden to travel to Longchamp to saddle Enable and Stradivarius in the Arc. One would have to think Gosden would want to be present should Enable make history with a third Arc triumph.
Under the new protocols for the first seven days after returning to the UK, individuals are exempt from self-isolation only for the purposes of training or competing. Otherwise, they must self-isolate as usual. They will also require weekly testing and daily monitoring with the BHA’s chief medical adviser Dr Jerry Hill.
