3 minute read
The Frankie Dettori bandwagon rolls on, and the Italian-born jockey has five rides today and a full book of rides tomorrow at Royal Ascot.
The jockey enjoyed his fabulous 449/1 four-timer on Gold Cup day yesterday, a rare feat and not achieved since 1965 by the legendary Lester Piggott.
Two of Piggott's winners came in the same races as Dettori - the New Stakes (now the Norfolk Stakes) with Tin King and in the Gold Cup on board Fighting Charlie.
Piggott also won the Chesham Stakes on Swift Harmony and the King George V Handicap on Brave Knight.
Unsurprisingly, Piggott won that year's top jockey award having ridden eight winners in total.
After yesterday's achievements, Dettori could repeat Piggott's feat as he is leading this year's jockeys' table with six winners, ahead of Ryan Moore on three.
Dettori has been leading jockey at Royal Ascot five times, but has not captured the QIPCO Leading Jockey Award since 2004. His first title was won in 1997 with four winners, while his best Royal Ascot came in 1998 with seven successes.
The most winners ridden at the Royal Meeting is a record that was created in 1878 by the 13-time Champion jockey Fred Archer - he won 12 races from 24 rides, including riding an amazing five winners on the Wednesday*. He beat Nat Flatman's 1847 previous record of 11. The Royal Meeting was a four-day meeting until 2002.
The modern-day record is held by Moore, who won nine races in 2015. The previous best was eight, a total achieved by Piggott in 1965 and 1975, and Pat Eddery in 1989.
Dettori is currently 4/7 with Betfred to win the 2019 QIPCO Leading Jockey Award, ahead of Ryan Moore on 5/4.
Dettori's rides today are:
- 2.30 Albany Stakes (G3) Last Surprise 7/1
- 3.05 King Edward VII Stakes (G2) Private Secretary5/1
- 3.40 Commonwealth Cup (G1) Advertise7/1
- 4.20 Coronation Stakes (G1) Twist 'N' Shake 12/1
- 5.35 Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap Ben Vrackie 9/1
His rides on Saturday are:
- 2:30 Chesham Stakes (L) Rose Of Kildare 25/1
- 3:05 Jersey Stakes (G3) Marie's Diamond 16/1
- 3:40 Hardwicke Stakes (G2) Lah Ti Dar 6/1
- 4:20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) Emblazoned 25/1
- 5:00 Wokingham Heritage Handicap Danzeno 8/1
- 5:35 Queen Alexandra Stakes Corelli 5/1
* Michael Church Racing Books
