FRANKIE’S OUT TO CRACKIT!
FRANKIE DETTORI is backing CRACKSMAN to bounce back to his best in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes this afternoon after taking day one of the royal meeting by storm.
The exuberant italian jockey rode an 86-1 treble on coventry Stakes winner calyx, monarchs Glen in the Wolferton Stakes and Without Parole in the feature St James’s Palace Stakes. he also reduced the Duchess of Sussex to a fit of giggles after bowing and kissing her hand as she and the Duke of Sussex presented the trophies for the big race. After meeting the royal couple — harry and meghan to their friends — Dettori, 47, said: ‘When i told her that my son would be very pleased i was receiving the trophy from her, she kind of giggled.
‘my kids will be more impressed about that than me winning the race.
‘it’s fantastic to have young royals presenting the trophy. i’m humbled.’ The
only downside of a brilliant day for Dettori when he won three out of three rides was a harsh seven-day whip ban and £4,300 fine for using his whip above the permitted level in the final two furlongs on Without Parole. The ban comes into force in 14 days, which means he will miss the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 7.
Dettori’s winners were all trained by John Gosden, who also trains Cracksman, the shortestpriced favourite of the week. The son of Frankel, and rated the best horse in Europe last year, Cracksman only just won the Coronation Cup at Epsom on June 1 but disliked the undulating track. Dettori said: ‘Everything that could go wrong at Epsom did go wrong. We know he likes it here and I still think he is a great horse. I hope he shows the world what he is capable of.’
Dettori’s first win yesterday took him past the 56 career wins at the meeting of Willie Carson, making Dettori, now on 59, the third most successful jockey in Royal Ascot history. Only the late Pat Eddery (73) and Lester Piggott (116) have been more successful.
Dettori said: ‘Willie is one of my heroes so it means a lot to pass him. The next dream is to get to 60, let’s hope I can do it this week.’
He recently dismissed rumours that he was about to retire and reckons he has five more seasons left riding. ‘You can count the years I have left on the palm of my hand so I have got to enjoy every Royal Ascot as much as I can. To have three winners in a week here is amazing but to do it in a day is fantastic.’
Dettori’s wins were even sweeter after he had to pull out of last year’s meeting with a shoulder injury. ‘When I was dusting my hat this morning I felt a little bit emotional,’ he added. ‘I thought, ‘‘Great I’ve made it’’.’
The most impressive of his trio of winners was Calyx, who streaked clear by a length on the stand side while second and third, Advertise and Sergei Prokofiev, raced on the opposite side of the track.
Unbeaten Without Parole, another son of Frankel, was forced to miss the 2,000 Guineas with a hoof problem. He pegged back trailblazing US Navy Flag before running out a halflength winner from Gustav Klimt. The Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood beckons.