DETTORI’S CLASSIC DOUBLE

FRANKIE DETTORI is on fire going into Royal Ascot after winning his second Classic in eight days on board Star Of Seville in yesterday’s French Oaks, the Prix de Diane, at Chantilly. Like the 44-year-old’s Investec Derby winner Golden Horn, Star Of Seville is trained by John Gosden and further evidence of the rejuvenating effect of Dettori’s reunion with his old boss this season. The Lady Bamford-owned 16-1 winner was running only nine days after being badly hampered and knocked out of contention in the Oaks at Epsom. Dettori, who needs one more success this week to make it 50 Royal Ascot winners, executed a finely-judged ride from a poor outside draw. Working his way towards the running rail he tucked in behind the pacemakers before striking for home to hold Physiocrate by a length. Dettori, who won York’s Musidora Stakes on Star Of Seville at York in May, said: ‘I feel numb, I’m still riding the Derby wave. We had a party with the yard last night and I’m still trying to understand what’s happening to me. ‘It went exactly as I thought. To back her up after a week to win the Prix de Diane, it’s all down to John Gosden. They all thought he was mad, but he did it.’ Star Of Seville’s win was a first in the race for a British- trained filly since Sir Mark Prescott’s Confidential Lady in 2006. It was a second victory for Dettori, successful in 2007 on French-trained West Wind for his old boss Sheik Mohammed. Coincidentally, that win came on the back of the jockey’s first Derby win on Authorized. Dettori has four rides on the opening day of the royal meeting tomorrow, including Sir Michael Stoute’s Consort taking on dual Guineas winner Gleneagles in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Richard Hannon-trained Eltezam for his No 1 retainer, owner Sheik Joaan Al Thani, in the Coventry Stakes.