Dettori takes Gold as St George shows his age
THE smile was back on Frankie Dettori’s face after he partnered Stradivarius to victory in the Ascot Gold Cup.
After crossing the line, the popular Italian milked it for every last drop.
Racegoers crowded the balconies of the grandstand to greet him and responded to his arm-waving gestures with delight when he returned to the winner’s enclosure.
After his customary flying dismount, racing’s undisputed showman could barely contain himself.
“It was mental,” he said, after mopping the sweat from his brow. “Having the crowd behind me like that was tremendous.
“They came to see a great race and that is what they got.”
Dettori asked for everything from the pony-sized Stardivarius and he was rewarded when the colt stretched out his bonny head to hold off Christophe Soumillion on Vazirabad.
Torcedor clung on for third place with Order Of St George, the first runner to come under pressure, finishing a disappointing fourth.
This was a poignant victory for Dettori who had missed the winning ride on Big Orange in last year’s race.
“I didn’t need reminding about that,” added Dettori. “I had forgotten about it, thanks very much. “For a brief moment, I thought I was in trouble. After I had Ryan (Moore, rider of Order Of St George) beat, I then saw Vazirabad and it did worry me, but my horse is brave as a lion.”
It was Dettori’s 60th Royal Ascot win and his sixth success in the Cup – but surprisingly a first for winning trainer John Gosden.
“What a finish,” said Gosden. “We thought the Frenchman (Vazirabad) was going to get us – Soumillon with a late rattle – but it was very exciting.
“Luckily he stuck his head out and went away. It was a stunningly good race, as these Gold Cups can sometimes be a procession.
“With Frankie it’s always special and he tells me he’s going to be riding until he’s 60, but I take it with a mixed reaction.”
Never mind Dettori expecting to continue riding until he is nearly a pensioner, Gosden has another jockey in mind for Stradivarius.
“He looks like Trigger and you could see Wyatt Earp riding him,” he said. “He’s a gorgeous horse.
“We’ll have to try for the £1million bonus if he wins the Goodwood Cup.”
It is amazing what a difference a day makes in the fickle game of racing as Gosden and Dettori were knocked for six after Cracksman was thrashed by Poet’s Word on Wednesday.
Banana
“Cracksman came home fine,”’ added Gosden. “In this game you can slip up on banana skins.”
The eloquent Soumillon paid Dettori a glowing compliment.
“Frankie was clever out there as he brought his horse close to Vazirabad,” he said.
“I went to the front by a head, but he just stops when he gets to the front – it’s a bit frustrating.”
Aidan O’Brien and Moore could not offer any excuses for Order Of St George’s below par performance but had earlier teamed up to land a 25-1 double.
Hunting Horn who had been knocking on the door came good in the Hampton Court Stakes for the pair, making it 50 Royal Ascot winners for Moore. Further success came with Magic Wand in the Ribblesdale Stakes.
O’Brien acknowledged Moore’s contribution to his Ballydoyle stable when he remarked: “He’s a dedicated professional, does his homework, has good hands, is a good judge of pace and strong. He’s a great fella.
“He can ride from the front and can ride from the back.”
Dettori leads Moore by one in the Qipco-sponsored award for the top jockey over the five days. Dettori has ridden four winners and Moore three. Andrea Atzeni and William Buick have ridden two apiece.
Moore has the stronger book of rides today with four mounts due to start either favourite or second favourite.
Gosden leads O’Brien by one in the bid to finish top trainer. Sir Michael Stoute is lying third with two winners.
The crowd was up for the third day running. The turn-out of 70,046 was up from 68,320 on the third day in 2017.
Wednesday’s attendance came to 41,495 (40,108 in 2017). Tuesday’s came to 46,773 (44,285 in 2017).