DET TORI TURNS 70 AT ASCOT
ITALIAN CLAIMS HARDWICKE STAKES ABOARD FANNY LOGAN ON PENULTIMATE DAY
Thirty years since he rode his first Royal Ascot winner as a teenager, Frankie Dettori continued to hog the limelight when sealing a landmark 70th victory at the event yesterday aboard the improving filly Fanny Logan.
Most significantly the Italian donned the vintage silks of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VicePresident and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, one of the sport’s most eminent figures aboard the impressive winner of the Hardwicke Stakes.
The famous colours of maroon, white sleeves and maroon cap with white star, which were carried to major victories around the world, are now associated with HH Shaikha Al Jalila Racing.
Dettori, who is by far the most successful jockey at the world’s most famous racing festival after the great Lester Piggott, produced Fanny Logan from the back of the field to claim a decisive victory.
John Gosden’s filly recorded a hat-trick of wins last season, culminating with a fourth-placed effort behind Iridessa in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park in America.
Fanny Logan crossed the line two-and-a-half lengths ahead of 40-1 shot Alounak, with Defoe a clear third.
Gosden told ITV Racing: “It wasn’t a fluke. At Haydock I asked Rab (Havlin) to drop her out and she ran a lovely race to finish second and after it she had a good blow so we knew she’d come on for it.
Good idea
“She’s been very bright since. Frankie had a plan to make the running today, but I told him I didn’t think that was a good idea so he sat out the back, rode her coolly, swept down the outside and she’s clearly the best on the day. “He’s riding as well as ever, belying his years and it’s a pleasure to be around him for his knowledge and feel. He’s a great race-reader,” added Gosden.
“She’s grown up know which was why I took the hood off.
“We’ll see where we go, she’s a Group Two winner now which is fantastic. If there’s a Group One, even against colts, we’ll look at it otherwise there’s the Lancashire Oaks. I wouldn’t be afraid of running her in the King George, she has different owners (to Enable)”
Commenting on reaching a new landmark, Dettori said: “It’s great to get 70 winner — now I want 71.”
Only Piggott has ridden more Royal Ascot winners with a colossal 116.