Dettori landmark with Logan’s run
FRANKIE DETTORI celebrated his 70th victory at Royal Ascot after Fanny Logan gave the boys a drubbing in the Hardwicke Stakes yesterday, just 24 hours after partnering Stradivarius to a memorable third Gold Cup victory.
Having been last of the nine runners entering the straight, the 49-year-old used all his Ascot experience to bring the four-year-old filly wide and late to win by two-and-a-half lengths from 40-1 outsider Alounak, with Defoe staying on in third.
John Gosden, the successful trainer, was lavish in his praise of the Italian.
“Frankie’s belying his years and it is a pleasure to be around him,” said Gosden. “His knowledge and his feel when riding work – he is one of the few who is extremely accurate when talking about horses – what they need and what they don’t need – and he is a great race-reader and a fabulous jockey.”
Dettori said: “John gave me a lot of confidence as he said she came out of her Haydock race really well.
“It’s great to get 70 winners – now I want 71!”
Gosden also reported that the Arc de Triomphe is now a serious target for Gold Cup winner Stradivarius.
“I think it is the concept of Ardross, who was a great, great Cup horse who then went and ran a fabulous second in the Arc,” said Gosden. “I think this owner Bjorn Nielsen is thinking in those terms.”
Oisin Murphy, who rode runner-up Alounak, was earlier on the mark with The Lir Jet in the Norfolk Stakes.
Michael Bell, the successful trainer, attributed the colt’s success to his son and assistant Nick.
“Nick found him and was going to the sales,” he said. “When the sales were cancelled, he came to us.”