Dettori still the top draw even as new era beckons
Star power
On the Flat, Frankie Dettori, 49, who enjoyed his best year in terms of Group One wins with 19 last year, remains the sport’s biggest box office attraction – anywhere he goes in the world. Providing he remains on the right side of John Gosden he can probably string out his career for five more years and I am sure when he goes there will be something of a world farewell tour.
The bad news, however, is that there does not appear to be anyone to take his place in terms of personality – and possibly ability – when he goes.
Oisin Murphy, the new champion jockey, says all the right things and is good in the big races but he could not carry the sport like Dettori has for nearly 30 years while Ryan Moore, the antithesis to Dettori in terms of character, should find life a bit less pressurised again at Ballydoyle now that Donnacha O’Brien has retired.
Over jumps, there has not been a genuine big name since Sir Anthony McCoy retired. There has not been a remotely close title race for 25 years but Richard Johnson and Brian Hughes are level pegging and that would provide a good sub-plot to the last quarter of the season.
Great horses come and go. Enable, who just failed in her attempt to become the first horse to win three Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes, stays in training as a six-year-old in 2020 which should be interesting while, with Altior suffering his first defeat in 20 starts over obstacles, there may be room at the top for a new jumping star at Cheltenham in March or for Altior to regain his crown.
Strength in depth
Jump racing has been dominated by the old guard for some time but with McCoy retired, Ruby Walsh gone and Davy Russell, Barry Geraghty, Robbie Power and Richard Johnson all late thirties or older and all riding better than ever – but in what must be considered the twilight of their careers – there are going to be some big changes in the next few years.
However, in Britain at any rate, for the first time in a while there appears to be a strong group of young jockeys coming through, already winning big races, and if one of them keeps progressing they could rule the roost. It should also be remembered that Harry Cobden, first jockey – a notoriously hard position to hang on to – to Paul Nicholls, is still only 21 and has a wealth of big-race experience.
Apart from Dettori, the big races on the Flat tend to be shared among the few: Moore, James Doyle, William Buick and Murphy, but that has always been the case. One always hopes the apprentice champion can go on and make it to the top and, if nothing else,