Frankie Dettori fights back tears after winning last ever Ascot race in all-time thriller on King Of Steel
FRANKIE DETTORI produced one of the rides of his LIFE to win his last ever race at Ascot.
The world's most famous jockey came from last to first in the dying strides on King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes - then fought back tears as the enormity of the moment completely overwhelmed him.
Dettori, 52, looked out of it going round the home bend in the big race of the day, with the Derby runner-up needing to be chivvied along.
But under the urging of his jockey, who is owned by football superagent Kia Joorabchian, King Of Steel kept finding more.
Dettori kept plugging away harder and harder as the crowd roared him on up the straight.
Via Sistina looked to have the momentum on the rail under former champion jockey Oisin Murphy but Dettori, that shrewd judge of pace, was not to be beaten.
The horse plugged back Via Sistina late on, his stamina kicking in when it mattered most - to complete the most fairytale of victories.
Seconds after King Of Steel won at 3-1 the racecourse broke out in song in Dettori's honour.
The jockey said after victory: "I have to pinch myself! This is crazy!
"I didn't think I was going to get there until the last 50 yards. This was another level.
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"This is a fairytale ending for me, I'm pretty emotional.
"Crazy nuts, unbelievable, incredible… this is Hollywood stuff.
"My head is completely full of emotion, I can't regiseter…. where do I start?!
"I'm a race lover. The crowds the last 30 years have been incredible.
"My last ride. Champion Stakes. Full crowd, everyone behind me - the crowd got the horse over the line.
"The atmosphere was off the charts, it was like Wembley. It was crazy.
" Can I go and have a beer now?"
In the winners' enclosure he then kissed the camera, fought back tears and said: "It's been great - I love you all."
It meant there was one final flying dismount - although as he mentioned in his exclusive Sun Racing column, there's a good chance he'll be back at Ascot next summer.
Earlier in the day, in the first race, Dettori rode a 999-1 in-running winner.
Trawlerman hit the maximum mark of 1000 (999-1) during the closing stages of the opening Long Distance Cup on Champions Day.
But Dettori showed expert timing and horsemanship to eek a bit more out of his horse to see off 11-10 fav Kyprios.
He said afterwards: "I heard the roar of the crowd, oh my God, it was special.
"I couldn't believe it. I have beaten one of my greatest rivals – I have tremendous respect for Ryan Moore [rider of Kyprios] – on my final day... sensational!"
It meant Dettori won his first of five races on the day - although went down agonisingly in the next on hot fav Kinross.
The Marc Chan-owned horse hit the lowest price on the Betfair Exchange of 1.01 as he went to the front with £2,500 staked on him.
But gallant 40-1 grey Art Power fought back to nut him on the line.
Bookies breathed a huge sigh of relief as they were spared a payout in the millions, with punters piling into Dettori multiples.
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They had feared being done for over £10million if Dettori's five rides had landed.
The Italian nearly sent half of them bust with his legendary Magnificent Seven back in 1996.
Dettori got the leg up on Free Wind in the Fillies and Mares race at 2.25 and finished fifth as 22-1 Poptronic sprung a shock.
Chaldean couldn't land a blow in the QEII Stakes - while King Of Steel made it an unforgettable day in Dettori's final ride.
Before racing, Dettori was joined by Queen Camilla as a statue at the racecourse was unveiled in his honour.
Her Royal Majesty was dressed in an emerald green dress coat and matching hat as she arrived at the track.
In honour of the occasion the Queen Consort, who attended the event alone, was pictured wearing a small diamante horse brooch.
The brooch pays a touching tribute to her late mother-in-law as it was gifted to her in 2016 on her 90th birthday.
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Dettori will next be seen in Australia as he goes hunting big rides during their big-money Spring Carnival.
His first rides in the US will come on Boxing Day - as he targets winning the Kentucky Derby in May.
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