Frankie Dettori gets the winner he craved at his final Royal Ascot
Frankie Dettori admits to ‘relief’ after securing the first win of his Royal Ascot swansong as veteran jockey rides to Queen’s Vase victory with Gregory
- Frankie Dettori secured victory at his final Royal Ascot with Gregory
- Gregory was the winner in the Queen’s Vase to the delight of a relieved Dettori
- Dettori is now determined to secure his 80th royal meeting success
Frankie Dettori grabbed the winner he craved at his final Royal Ascot when landing the Queen’s Vase on Gregory yesterday.
It had taken the 52-year-old Italian nine rides and a series of near-misses to land his 78th royal meeting success and the relief was clear as he pretended to throw a metaphorical monkey off his back before treating racegoers to a trademark flying dismount.
Dettori, who retires at the end of the season, said: ‘You get to your last ride of day two and you start to think I have had a few favourites and seconds so, yes, it was a relief. I knew this would be my best chance.
‘A winner at this meeting was on my bucket list of things to do in my final season so to achieve it is great. I thought this winner was never going to come. I’m both sad and happy. I’ve still got three more days but at least I’ve got one on the board.
‘It is the only day all my family are here so to ride a winner is great. We are chasing 80 now! I got a great reception but it was an even money favourite with me on!’
Frankie Dettori was delighted and relieved as Gregory triumphed in the Queen’s Vase
After having three seconds from his five rides on Tuesday when he also picked up a nine-day careless riding ban on unplaced Saga in the Wolferton Stakes, Dettori’s best finish from his first three rides yesterday was the third place of Prosperous Voyage in the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
Going into the third day without a win would have increased the pressure on Dettori but he insisted he felt very relaxed and he delivered a perfectly judged front-running ride on Gregory, who is trained by John and Thady Gosden, who beat a length and a half from Oisin Murphy-ridden Saint George as he pulled further clear in the final 50 yards.
Dettori said: ‘I knew this horse was good enough but I wasn’t so sure about his experience. He is very laid back and I thought if he doesn’t start well he might get lost. But he jumped well, got to the front and I knew he would stay.
‘I was in front a long time and when Oisin Murphy came to me I thought ‘oh no, not second again’. But This horse really stuck his neck out.’
The final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster on September 16, is now Gregory’s target and John Gosden said the colt would have one run beforehand.
Dettori is now chasing further glory at Royal Ascot as he aims to reach 80 royal meeting wins
Dettori’s ban means he will miss his Eclipse Stakes ride on favourite Emily Upjohn.
He added: ‘I have my lawyers looking at it. I am sad to be missing Emily but it is one of those things. If we decide there is a good case to appeal I will but I will not just do it to waste everyone’s time.’
Dettori has a full book of seven rides on day three including 10-1 shot Courage Mon Ami in the Gold Cup. His shortest-priced ride is 11-2 chance Epictetus in the Hampton Court Stakes.
Dettori stated that a winner at this meeting was ‘on his bucket list’ in his final season
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