Frankie Dettori has enjoyed some legendary moments at Royal Ascot (Image: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Frankie Dettori will not be racing at Royal Ascot this year. The race meeting begins on Tuesday but Dettori is honouring his promise to retire from British racing.
The 53-year-old has been a central figure in numerous memorable moments at the esteemed race meeting, including his unexpected ninth victory in last year’s Ascot Gold Cup. Dettori expertly guided Courage Mon Ami to a late surge, overtaking favourite Coltrane, ridden by Oisin Murphy.
The victory sparked remarkable scenes as Dettori had previously announced that it would be his final year at Royal Ascot. Despite his pledge, there were rumours that Dettori, who continues to race in the US, might make a surprise return. However, he will only be attending as a spectator.
A statue of Frankie Dettori was unveiled at Royal Ascot during his final day in British racing (Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
“Frankie told me in Dubai that he wasn’t going to ride there, because he didn’t think it was the right thing to do after he’d retired from British racing, and I’m kind of glad,” Murphy revealed to the Racing Post.
“He’s giving younger guys and girls an opportunity. He’d have taken me off a few horses, and other people as well, so I’m glad he’s taking that approach.”
There had been whispers that Dettori might potentially ride a horse from US trainer Wesley Ward’s stable, but it seems he will be assuming a different role at Ascot this year. Dettori will be part of a hospitality venture with Italian chef Francesco Mazzei in the Royal Enclosure.
Racing icon Frankie Dettori, who had announced his intention to retire in October 2023, has since made a partial U-turn by continuing to race in the US. The Italian maestro hit the ground running across the pond, notching up an astonishing six wins in a row on a single day in April, defying staggering 77,000/1 odds. It means he is set for a novel experience at Ascot this year.
“Frankie is going as a racegoer,” revealed Hannah Tufnell from H Talent Management, which represents the legendary jockey. “He made the decision to retire from British racing last October, and he is going to honour that.”
“He will be enjoying some quality time with family and friends, having his first experience of the meeting out of the saddle.”
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His absence will give his peers a better chance of claiming a victory at Royal Ascot. Yet, fellow jockey Oisin Murphy concedes that filling Dettori’s shoes is a tall order.
“It doesn’t even cross my mind that the rest of us need to step up to replace him,” Murphy confessed. “He rode for the powerhouses of British racing throughout his career and built up a celebrity profile to go with it, and I’m not capable of that. Other riders will make their own profiles but they won’t be like his.
“Of course British racing will miss him but it’ll give others an opportunity to find their role, their niche in the ecosystem.”
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