Frankie Dettori's Top 5 racing moments

Maybe not a horse which many will recall, but Barathea landed the Breeders’ Cup Mile back in 1994, and would be the first of many wins in the States for Frankie Dettori – who at the time was your everyday-regular jockey. He would go on to record thirteen wins at the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Churchill Downs – held every November, including four in the Breeders’ Cup Turf; most recently aboard Dangerous Midge in 2010. Ouija Board is probably the most famous of Dettori’s successes, with the horse winning the Breeders Cup Filly/Mare Turf in 2006, with the mare since becoming a very successful dam. Dettori’s trips to the States have allowed him to become an internationally-known favourite.

(Credit Breeders Cup International)

On the 28th September, 1996, Frankie Dettori quite-frankly did the impossible, and completed a seven-race card at Ascot, including winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Mark of Esteem. The cumulative odds of these wins were approximately 25,000/1, and earned one lucky punter an incredible £500,000. This was a landmark day for British horseracing, and made a hero of the Italian, while stripping stunned bookmakers of millions. He was already a well-known jockey before the Magnificent Seven, but the achievement made him a sporting household name. No one has quite matched this feat since this iconic day in the 90’s, and the day will be forever remembered.

(Credit an08p)

The famous Italian has won the Epsom Derby twice, and the first was aboard Authorized in 2007, trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam. Having won the Racing Post Trophy as a 2yo, and the Dante on his first start as a 3yo, Authorized was sent off a short 10/11 favourite, and returned a five-length winner. Dettori enjoyed more success from this son of Montjeu in the Juddmonte International at York the same year; a race which the Italian has now won no less than five times.

(Credit Racing UK)

The second of Dettori’s Derby winners was Golden Horn, but his most famous venture was winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2015 under unbelievable circumstances. The Italian famously pulled the Anthony Oppenheimer owned colt wide approaching the first turn – which seemed to mean he was covering more ground than the rest of the field. However, Dettori had somehow judged his ride to perfection and went on to deny French mare Treve a third Arc and instead win himself a fourth aboard this son of Cape Cross. Golden Horn would only be beaten once, and that was by Arabian Queen in the Juddmonte International, when he was sent off a short 4/7 favourite.

(Credit At The Races)

The Italian marksman has ridden so many great winners, but few better than arguably one of the fillies of our generation - Enable. This daughter of Nathaniel is now a dual Arc winner – which took Dettori’s tally to six in the race. She is also a triple Oaks winner as well as a King George victor. Now John Gosden’s leading stable jockey since William Buick left for Godolphin, Dettori has enjoyed so much success from Gosden’s yard, and even at 48 years of age, he is showing no signs of stopping, or indeed retiring. Enable will always be, one of if not the best he has ever ridden in his illustrious career.