I just want to cry says Dettori after missing out by a head then demoted to fourth and banned
FRANKIE DETTORI said “I want to cry” when he missed out on victory in yesterday’s Melbourne Cup by just a head on Master Of Reality and then was demoted to fourth.
Dettori, who has now failed to win the ‘race that stops a nation” in 17 attempts, finished an agonising second behind the Craig Williams-ridden (right) Vow And Declare but was pushed down two places after being found guilty of causing interference with Il Paradiso, the fourth home. He banned for eight careless riding.
Prince Of Arran, third in last year’s race, was promoted to second to the delight of his Newmarket trainer Charlie Fellowes.
Dettori said: want to cry.
“Master Of Reality was looking for company and went left but I “I was also days for had both hands on my reins and corrected him. Perhaps I could have corrected him a stride earlier, but it was very minimal interference.” Dettori has now finished second three times in the Cup after Central Park in 1999 and Max Dynamite in 2015.
Joseph O’Brien, the gelding’s trainer and winner of last year’s race with Rekindling, added: “I’m more gutted for Frankie than I am for myself. I don’t know if he will ever win this race.”
In contrast, Prince Of Arran’s trainer Fellowes was triumphant.
He tweeted: “Wow! No words to describe how proud I am of everyone involved in this horse. Australia, once again it’s been a privilege to take part in this amazing race. Until next year!”
Of the other European runners, Cross Counter was eighth and Raymond Tusk 16th.