Frankie Still a King at Dubai World Cup Meet

Whatever financial clouds might be hanging over him, Frankie Dettori’s class in the saddle remains undimmed, reports racingpost.com, following yet another reminder of just how talented he is. The superstar jockey, who recently filed for bankruptcy after failing to reach agreement with HM Revenue and Customs over a tax dispute, turned back the clock with a flawless ride in Dubai reinforcing why he’s been the man behind the Magnificent Seven and four World Cup wins. Piloting Raging Torrent in the Godolphin Mile, Dettori controlled the race from the front with trademark poise, sealing an all-the-way win. His exuberant flying dismount was followed by a double fist pump – relief, perhaps, as much as joy. “I came for this and I’m delighted,” he said. “He’s a horse that’s sensible, he runs a little bit behind the bridle and so I knew he’d relax on and off. If the others pressure him they’re playing Russian roulette, nobody’s going to jeopardise their horse to try to take me on. He’s such a beautiful horse. It’s a plan well executed from the beginning to the end. He’s a relentless galloper, as long as I got my fractions right I knew I’d get to the end.” Frankie’s night nearly turned into something even more spectacular. In the Dubai World Cup itself, Dettori looked set to pull off a memorable double aboard the Doug O’Neill-trained Mixto. Having surged into the lead entering the straight, he seemed to have the race in hand until the Brad Cox-trained outsider Hit Show, under Florent Geroux, reeled him in inside the final furlong. Mixto had started to paddle just as the line loomed, leaving Dettori to reflect on what might have been. Still, in a career that has weathered storms both personal and professional, the night was a powerful reminder, Dettori’s not done yet. In the all-new Netflix thoroughbred drama Race for the Crown (see above item), Dettori is asked what motivates him to continue riding, to which he replies, “I’d rather die in the saddle than die of boredom.”