Chastening week for Frankie

WITHOUT detracting from the magnificent winners at Royal Ascot, this year’s meeting will long be remembered for the inexcusable defeat of Stradivarius.

If ever there was a reception capable of lifting the roof off that vast grandstand it was a record-equalling fourth victory in the Ascot Gold Cup for Stradivarius.

Everything had fallen in his favour for his last throw of the dice before retirement but with one exception – his rider Frankie Dettori (right).

So often the hero but on Thursday the Italian was the villain. For whatever reason, and plenty has been said, his incompetence is hard to fathom.

After Stradivarius finished third, John Gosden was at his diplomatic best to refrain from sticking the boot in with both feet.

Dettori bounced back the next day with the sort of ride we expect from Ascot’s court jester, with victory on Inspiral in the Coronation Cup.

Like the numerous admirers of Dettori, there was also disappointment for the supporters of the Queen. Her Majesty did not make the gig, which on reflection was a wise decision as all her runners were beaten.

Again, the meeting was given an extra punch when the Aussies, much to their delight, thumped the Brits after Nature Strip took the King’s Stand Stakes on the opening day. They no doubt will have looked upon Jane Chapple-Hyam’s two victories as their own. Chapple-Hyam, born in Melbourne but who spent most her life training in Newmarket, has to be applauded after landing a double – Saffron Beach and Claymore – and a second with her only other runner, as she only has a handful of horses.

As for Baaeed, his status as the best in the world, was not enhanced after beating second division players in the Queen Anne Stakes.

But that will change if he topples Coroebus, the courageous winner of Wednesday’s St James’s Palace Stakes, whose connections immediately threw down a challenge in next month’s Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.