Frankie goes to Royal Ascot and cleans up
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori reminded everyone of his famed Ascot abilities when landing a treble on the opening day of the royal meeting, all for trainer John Gosden.
It is well known the Italian-born jockey has a love affair with the famous Berkshire course, beginning when riding all seven winners at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes meeting at Ascot in September, 1996, reports Racing.com
But Royal Ascot winners mean even more, and the champion was at his supreme best on day one of the meeting.
With only three rides on the opening day (early morning NZ time) Dettori’s bookings were lighter than what many would expect. He made them all count.
Dettori rode the winners of races two, four and six.
It began with unbeaten two-year- old Calyx storming to victory in the group two Coventry Stakes, followed up with Frankel’s unbeaten son Without Parole in the group one St James’s Palace Stakes, and then finished the day with a well-judged ride aboard Monarchs Glen in the Listed Wolferton Stakes.
The three winners have now taken Dettori’s Royal Ascot record to 59 victories in his career, well clear of other jockeys with Ryan Moore next best on 48.
“Three rides, three winners at Ascot is special,” a delighted Dettori said.
“I missed the meeting last year and I am making up for it here.
“To have three winners in a week is amazing, but to have three winners in one day at Royal Ascot is unbelievable.
“I love Ascot. It has been so lucky for me and it’s been a great team effort — John Gosden is on fire. When the outsider even wins, you know you’ve had a good day.
“I have some great rides still to come — I didn’t expect three today and I’m looking forward to riding Cracksman [Prince Of Wales’s Stakes] tomorrow.”
It sets the rest of the week up beautifully for Dettori as he attempts to end Moore’s dominance as the meeting’s leading jockey.
Moore has won the Royal Ascot Top Jockey Award seven times in the past eight years, including the past four straight.
Dettori has won the title five times previously, in 1997 to 1999 and then back to back titles in 2003 and 2004.
The 47-year-old, who has denied retirement rumours this year, is well placed for further feature success this week with Australian-trained sprinter Redkirk Warrior in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes joining Cracksman as one of the best chances.
Things were soured slightly as he picked up a seven-day ban for whip use above the permitted level from the 400m aboard Without Parole in the St James’s Palace Stakes and was fined £4300 ($8200). — racing.com