Frankie Dettori has announced that he will ride in the Melbourne Cup on November 7.
Never having won the race, Dettori will be taking a mount in the big one some 30 years after his first attempt. The popular Italian rider’s final rides in the UK will come on October 21.
Oaks Day and Champions Stakes Included
We saw some Spring Carnival pointers coming from Royal Ascot, including Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami. Whether or not the young stayer comes to Australia, the winning rider certainly will be.
Dettori won his final Gold Cup on the Gosden-trained runner and has now further extended his retirement year.
The best-known jockey in worldwide horse racing finishes up in England on Champions Day at Ascot before heading to Melbourne. He is set to ride not only in the Melbourne Cup on November 7, but also on Kennedy Oaks Day on November 9 and Champions Stakes Day on November 11.
Though Champions Day at Ascot was always to be Dettori’s final move in Britain, his retirement year overall has been extended.
He is likely to head to Santa Anita, California for the Breeders’ Cup on November 3 and 4. That was to be the end of things for Dettori in the saddle, though now he will hang up his saddle at least a week later.
Jockey Looking Go One Better in the Cup
Frankie Dettori has ridden over 250 winners at Group and Grade One level. In England, there is little he’s not achieved though he is still looking for a July Cup win. He attempts that race one last time at Newmarket on July 15.
He cites the Melbourne Cup as a race he really wants to win. Now 52, he rode in the Melbourne Cup for the first time in 1993 on Drum Taps. In his 17 attempts since, Dettori has finished second three times.
Victoria Racing Club chief exec Steve Rosich has been instrumental in bringing Dettori back to Melbourne. His team is already making preparations for the Spring Carnival and that includes trying to get the best horses and best jockeys to take part.
