A CAREER in the saddle spanning more than 30 years has served up over 3,200 Dettori winners.
Sun Racing superfan MARK NEVIN has picked out his most memorable moments from a feast of Frankie masterclasses. Do you agree? Let us know what you think on Twitter!
Dettori turns 50 on Tuesday but has no intention of retiring just yet
ENABLE: King George (2019)
THE Queen of Racing had to get down and dirty to land her second King George after the fast pace caught her out and left her with plenty to do.
Frankie put his years of experience to good use and conserved as much energy as he could before swooping to challenge in the Ascot home straight.
The dust-up in the final furlong between Enable and Crystal Ocean invoked memories of the legendary 1975 clash between Bustino and Grundy, the mare just inching ahead in the shadow of the post.
Enable vs Crystal Ocean in the 2019 King George, still spine-tingling to this day!
pic.twitter.com/RTdhsxklGE
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 12, 2020
STRADIVARIUS: Gold Cup (2018)
STRADIVARIUS has joined a select group of champion stayers with three Gold Cup wins, but in his first victory, Frankie had to be at his strategic best.
In one of the hottest renewals ever, ‘Strad’ was put to the test and stepped up to snatch the staying crown with a performance showcasing all his grit and flamboyance.
He had to fight off Order Of St George and Torcedor, before holding the late challenge of French ace Vazirabad.
GALILEO GOLD: 2,000 Guineas (2016)
AN unconsidered 14-1 shot, Galileo Gold gave trainer Hugo Palmer a first Classic win under a tactically astute Dettori ride.
It may have looked straightforward, but it was anything but, as the trainer himself summed it up: “Masterful ride, willing partner”.
Popping the stalls like a greyhound and faced with a steady early pace, the Italian made the quick decision to track the early fractions.
Motionless through the race until letting loose on the approach to the two-pole, Dettori was last off the bridle as he capitalised on the smooth tempo to bound clear and land a third 2,000 Guineas.
Galileo Gold and Frankie streaked to a famous Classic win
GOLDEN HORN: Arc (2015)
A SUPERSTAR three-year-old, who produced some brilliant performances in the Derby, Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, Golden Horn is best remembered for his Longchamp exploits.
It was a tactical masterclass by Frankie from a nightmare draw in stall 14 of 17.
The race was supposed to be all about French mare Treve, going for an unprecedented third Arc success.
But Frankie spoiled the party with an awesome, ice-cool, confident performance from the saddle.
The pace was fairly steady and Frankie kept wide of the field early before slowly creeping across to sneak in right behind the frontrunner.
Resisting the temptation to go too early, Frankie finally kicked on two furlongs out and the rest is history . . .
pic.twitter.com/1sBAmMH9Wk On this day in 2015 @FrankieDettori & Golden Horn win the Arc @paris_longchamp with Treve back in 4th
— Paul (@Crazyg07231486) October 4, 2020
RAVEN’S PASS: Breeders’ Cup Classic (2008)
JOHN GOSDEN’s star miler was not a guaranteed stayer, stepping up to ten furlongs for the first time, but Frankie conserved his stamina to produce one of the best waiting rides in Breeders’ Cup history.
Dettori was live from the gates, immediately tucking in behind favourite Curlin. He knew he didn’t stand a chance of winning if he couldn’t beat the US superstar, so he tailed him all the way before coming on the outside for a clear run at gold.
The Brits (and an Italian) had finally conquered America as Raven’s Pass became the first and only British winner of the Classic.
SAKHEE: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2001)
SAKHEE will go down as one of the best Frankie has ever ridden and at Longchamp he gave him a ride truly worthy of the horse’s talents.
It was a serious task to defy a wide draw in 15, but the Italian never panicked and bounced out early to take up a perfect position in the first half of the race.
Sakhee was travelling sweetly before the home straight and all it took was a couple of pushes from Dettori and he was away and gone, drawing right away from the field before being allowed to coast over the line to rapturous applause from the crowd.
It was Dettori’s second Arc success and Sakhee’s six-length winning margin is only matched by Arc legends Ribot and Sea Bird.
A winning Arc ride for the ages
FANTASTIC LIGHT: Irish Champion Stakes (2001)
ALMOST 20 years on, this still rates one of the best Irish Champion runnings.
A titanic duel between Fantastic Light and Derby hero Galileo truly lived up to the hype.
The pair had met previously in the King George with the Irish star getting the verdict, but Frankie changed tactics in Ireland and kicked early.
Everything went to plan and he nicked a couple of lengths in the home straight to hold off Aidan O’Brien’s ace by a head.
The winner went on to Breeders’ Cup glory under another fine ride by the Italian and the second home is now one of the all-time great sires.
FUJIYAMA CREST: Ascot (1996)
A GREAT ride in a modest handicap at Ascot would not immediately be on everyone’s list, but Fujiyama Crest sent Frankie into the history books as the last winning leg of his incredible Magnificent Seven.
On a day that cost the betting industry more than £30million, nobody thought he would land the finale, but Frankie made all for an ice-cool success.
Fujiyama Crest had a mixed career after this high point — including a spell over hurdles for Nicky Henderson — before being happily retired as the Dettori family pet.
BARATHEA: Breeders’ Cup Mile (1994)
ALREADY established as one of the leading UK riders, Dettori’s win on Barathea in the Breeders’ Cup Mile marked him out as a global star.
Everything went right in the Grade 1 and he rode Luca Cumani’s colt with the utmost confidence, the pair quickening clear to win by three lengths.
It would be the start of a dream relationship with mega-bucks owner Sheikh Mohammed, the pair going on to have unprecedented success under the Godolphin banner.
LOCHSONG: Prix de L’Abbaye (1994)
THE Queen Of Speed put Frankie on the map with some sizzling performances.
Like all top sprinters, she very much lived life on the edge and there were a few times when she lost her race before the start.
One such occasion was in the 1994 Nunthorpe where she bolted before the race and finished a disappointing last of ten. Frankie learnt his lesson for her next big day at Longchamp though, walking her to the start at a snail’s pace before her bid to land back-to-back Abbayes.
The race went as smooth as silk and she never saw another rival, coming home an easy five-length winner. After the race, Frankie described her as “quick as Linford Christie . . . but without the lunchbox”.
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