Royal Ascot 2017 – Frankie Dettori has a “cracking book of rides” according to Matt Chapman
D:REAM told us things can only get better.
You wouldn’t necessarily expect that to apply to age — but in many cases it does.
Age is of primary importance to whisky, with the liquor needing to have been around for at least three years to start reaching its best flavour. Some would say it needs a decade.
Cheddar cheese is also improved by time, as are jeans, beef, balsamic vinegar, leather, pickles, flannel sheets and wines. Oh and me, of course — seriously I’m only just getting my act together!
And as Royal Ascot approaches one of the oldest men in the weighing room will take on the responsibility of providing racing with a personality.
Frankie Dettori MBE, is 46, which makes him the joint third-oldest Flat jockey in the weighing room. That’s hard to believe when you see him flying off horses, but it’s true.
The dashing Italian shares third place in the age stakes with Franny Norton, Joe Fanning and Irineu Goncalves.
John Egan at 49 is nearly the old man of the party, with Jimmy Quinn the grandad at 50. Sorry fellas!
I was lucky enough to have a chat with Dettori at Windsor on Monday, and he was in bubbly, youthful form.
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Things went awry later in the week when he had a paddock accident at Yarmouth, but he’s expected to be back on board Shutter Speed in the French Oaks tomorrow.
Dettori has been champion three times. He has more than 500 Group wins and famously banged in all seven winners on British Champions’ Day at Ascot in 1996.
But is he like a good whisky?
Ward nonsense
A SKIRMISH broke out over US trainer Wesley Ward using Ascot to work his horses before the Royal meeting.
It’s a nonsense.
Those complaining Ward is at an advantage state he has top-class gallops to use in Newmarket — well so do those who train there!
The moaners say it should be a level playing field. Well it’s not for Ward.
He has travelled his horses across the world and most of them have never seen a straight five furlongs.
Foreign competition is key for a successful Ascot. I’m cool with it all.
Of course he has slowed down a bit, and a fall takes more out of him than the youngsters eager to one day take his job with Al Shaqab Racing.
But on the big occasion, he is a peach of a rider.
At Royal Ascot his record is second to none, with 56 wins, including five Gold Cups, three Prince of Wales’s Stakes and six Queen Annes.
Age certainly has not made him any less appealing to trainers and owners. He has a cracking book of Ascot rides — and not just for Al Shaqab.
Qemah should have a great chance in the Duke of Cambridge. She won the Coronation last season and doesn’t have to carry a penalty.
Lady Aurelia is all speed and might easily destroy the King’s Stand field, while Daban is surely going to take a bit of beating in the Jersey.
Don’t ignore Magical Memory in the Diamond Jubilee. He was weak in the market at York but ran a cracker.
Whether you are a fan or not, enjoy Dettori while he’s around. There won’t be many years left in the old boy and when he’s gone the game will be much less fun.