Dettori has found a new hunger

It shows in the way the horses who run in the royal blue colours of the globetrotting Godolphin operation have been hitting the target since returning from Dubai last month.

And it shows in the way the regal figure of Sheikh Mohammed is doing a fair impression of a man half his age as he runs the world's most lavish bloodstock operation with his new bride Princess Haya at his side.

The mood at Godolphin Stables could hardly be more positive, but come Saturday the smiles of Frankie and the Sheikh will be replaced by the intense stares of a duo who want to win the Vodafone Derby very badly indeed. Naturally, both men insist that landing the race which will draw a crowd of 120,000 to Epsom Downs this weekend isn't that big a deal.

"Just seeing the horses run well is pleasure enough," said the Sheikh, while Dettori insists "it's not going to change my life if it doesn't happen."

With respect, gentlemen, pull the other one.

Dettori has more charisma and natural talent than any jockey in the world and more money than he could ever hope to spend. He also has a beautiful wife, four kids he adores and a rare sense of perspective brought on by the plane crash which almost killed him four years ago.

But Dettori also has a monkey on his back as the greatest jockey never to win a Derby.

Lester Piggott won nine, Willie Carson won four and Pat Eddery and Walter Swinburn each won three. Kieren Fallon, Michael Kinane and Johnny Murtagh have two apiece and Dettori knows the clock is ticking as he chases the one race which still has the ability to put him on edge.

"The mountain is getting bigger every year and is beginning to look like Everest," he said. "I probably have about 10 more chances to win the Derby but I don't think I've ever ridden a Derby horse with as good a chance as Snow Ridge.

"I've ridden horses who were favourite to win, but Cape Verdi ended up being knocked all over the place and it didn't take Einstein to work out that Dubai Millennium might have too much speed for a mile and a half."

The latter comment could also apply to Snow Ridge, whose sire Indian Ridge was a sprinter on the track and has developed a reputation as a strong influence for speed rather than stamina since going to stud.

Sheikh Mohammed acknowledges the last two furlongs at Epsom could be a problem for Snow Ridge. He said: "I feel his best distance could be a mile and a quarter, but we are only guessing and the race will tell us."

Dettori also acknowledges the slight stamina doubt but feels that Snow Ridge's relaxed demeanour will count in his favour.

"Yeats is unbeaten and I'm very impressed with North Light, who won the Dante with a bit in hand, but Snow Ridge proved that he's a highclass horse by finishing second in a very good 2,000 Guineas," he added. "He's a very placid horse and a real athlete. Those big, gangly horses tend to struggle down the hill at Epsom, but Snow Ridge is beautifully balanced. I think he has a great chance."

Sheikh Mohammed has won a Derby thanks to Lammtarra's 1995 success, but that was gained under Swinburn in the colours of his teenage nephew Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum. The desire to see Snow Ridge repeat the feat in the Godolphin blue with Dettori aboard burns bright.

"If you want to be at the top you have to ride every day and Frankie realised that last year," he said. "He looks a hungry man again and that is good for all of us."

Dettori accepts that the cherry picking policy he adopted last year dulled his edge slightly and set out to settle a few scores this season.

"A few people upset me last year, so

it was time to come back and show them," he said. "I'm enjoying being out there every day again and having a go at winning the jockeys' championship. I don't expect to win it, but if I don't it won't be for lack of trying."

Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed waxes lyrical about the need to strive for perfection even if it involves making mistakes along the way.

"I am a leader and therefore I must test other ground and go out of the safety zone," he said.

It's a familiar mantra from the most powerful man in racing, and the desire to seek new boundaries is tested again over breakfast with the bizarre sight of Dettori extolling the virtues of black pudding to Godolphin's Aussie deputy Kerrin McEvoy.

"What the hell is that?" was McEvoy's reaction when faced with the chunky black disc alongside his sausage and fried egg, while Dettori responded by telling his colleague "that's the best thing on your plate".

"There's a first time for everything," was McEvoy's pensive reply.

Indeed there is. And Dettori and Sheikh Mohammed hope Snow Ridge can prove the point on Saturday.