Turf Talk: Frankie Dettori couldn't have written a better script himself on farewell appearance

Harrogate Advertiser horse racing correspondent Jeff Garlick’s latest weekly column.
By Jeff Garlick
Published 24th Oct 2023, 13:51 BST
Updated 24th Oct 2023, 13:51 BST
Frankie Dettori celebrates after riding King Of Steel to victory in The Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty ImagesFrankie Dettori celebrates after riding King Of Steel to victory in The Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images
Frankie Dettori celebrates after riding King Of Steel to victory in The Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Frankie Dettori stole the headlines on Champion’s Day at Ascot last Saturday. He rode a great race in the Stayers on Trawlerman to beat the favourite Kyprios. Then on his final ride in this country he brought the house down by winning the feature race on King of Steel. He could not have written the script better himself.

He now heads to Australia for the Melbourne Cup and a possible appearance on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. He then moves on to America to ride in all the big races over there. Frankie has been brilliant in promoting British racing and will be sadly missed. I personally think we have not seen the last of the Italian as the lure of Royal Ascot next year may prove too tempting. We will see.

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The final Group One race of the Flat season takes place at Doncaster on Saturday. The Kameko Futurity Trophy Stakes is the race in question and sees an intriguing clash between horses from the Coolmore and Godolphin outfits. Aidan O’Brien has won the race eleven times, including the last two years. His best hope looks to be Diego Velazquez a flashy Frankel colt with four white socks who cost 2.4 million guineas at the sales.

Godolphin has paid £17,500 to supplement Ancient Wisdom into the race and he looks the only danger to Diego. The ground is forecast to be heavy at Doncaster which is a concern, but connections ran City of Troy in the Dewhurst so hopefully will also let their latest superstar take his chance.

David O’Meara’s Esquire ran a good race on soft ground at York recently and he looks the one for the Listed Prospect Stakes.

The Jumpers return at Cheltenham with four races televised. Trainer Gary Moore has made a good start to the season and has good chances in the opening two races. Haddex Des Obeaux and Spirit D’Aunou are the pair in question and both will be ridden by Gary’s son Jamie

Garlick’s ‘Saturday’ Goodies: Cheltenham 1:15 – Haddex Des Obeaux; 1:50 – Spirit D’Aunou; Doncaster 2:10 - Esquire; 2:45 – Diego Velazquez.

Related topics:Frankie DettoriDoncasterAscot