Frankie Dettori celebrates ‘supersonic day’
Late on Saturday afternoon there was a call from the weighing room at Ascot to the local fire station.
It came from the rest of the jockeys who were wondering whether Frankie Dettori could now be declared a fire hazard. It may be 14 years since he rode the “magnificent seven” and he was never going to match that because he only had six rides on this year’s card, but he was happy enough to end the day with what could surely be described as a “fab four”.
Top of the list was the last-stride victory for Poet’s Voice in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and White Moonstone who won the other Group One race on the card, the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile, to give Godolphin one of their best days on a British racecourse in recent years.
“I always ask myself ‘Can I do it again?’ and, on the same day, to ride four winners is beyond my wildest dreams – especially all the big races,” the Italian said.
The last hundred yards of the QEII seemed to be as much about the force of will of a rider who, when his confidence is at its height, appears to be capable of more than the formbook says about his horse. “I thought he had a few pounds to find with the big ones,” Dettori admitted. “I didn’t have the best of the draw as well – I had to lose a few lengths just to get him settled - then I had to go around [the field] at the turn and lose a couple of lengths again – so it was a fantastic performance.”
The performance of White Moonstone may not have been quite so enthralling but Dettori still has great hopes for the filly he calls “the super model” for next season after her win. “She’s done it really well. I thought she was a touch flat – maybe the race came a bit too quick for her since Doncaster – but the class pulled her though.”
Redford proved that he will surely be a class above handicaps, when he supplemented his victory in last week’s Ayr Gold Cup by defying a 6lb penalty to win the totesport.com Challenge Cup, but he was a bit of an also-ran on this day of days for his jockey. “I forgot about him,” Dettori said with a laugh. “It seems like a long time ago now. To win two £100,000 races in seven days is remarkable.”
The link that Dettori has with Ascot is remarkable, and immortalised in the statue that commemorates his seven winners of 1996. “I don’t know what it is about this place. Every time I come here the horses fly for me.”
While he may not be ready to quit just yet, Dettori is keen to savour each moment as his career enters its home straight. “Ascot is a special place. When you’re young you do it and it all happens so quick that you don’t get to appreciate it. Now I’m trying to take a step back and enjoy everything; the walk-in, the crowd and it’s been a supersonic day.”
http://www.senore.com/Poets-Voice-crowned-in-Queen-Elizabeth-II-Stakes-a29759
http://www.senore.com/Frankel-streaks-clear-in-Royal-Lodge-Stakes-a29745
http://www.senore.com/White-Moonstone-rises-in-Fillies-Mile-a29752
http://www.senore.com/Frankie-Dettori-and-Redford-step-up-for-Challenge-Cup-a29755
http://www.senore.com/Morning-Line-takes-Pennsylvania-Derby-a29783
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