USA: Frankie Dettori, currently in California at the start of his ‘farewell tour’, stole the show on Saturday with a brilliant four-timer at Santa Anita.
The 52-year-old, who shocked the racing world by announcing plans to retire at the end of 2023, scored on four of his seven mounts at the famous venue.
“Amazing!” said Dettori, who treated the crowd to a trademark flying dismount after winning the $100,000 Wishing Well Stakes on Leonard Powell-trained Freedom Flyer to complete his four-timer.
The great entertainer leaves the stage, leaving us wanting more – Steve Dennis on Frankie Dettori
“You’ll have to go back a few years since I’ve had four winners in one day,” added Dettori, whoi flies to Riyadh this week to partner Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer for Santa Anita-based Bob Baffert in the world’s richest race, the $20m Saudi Cup. He is also set to ride in the International Jockey Challenge.
Dettori, whose rides are being handled by veteran top jockey agent Ron Anderson, certainly seems to be enjoying himself in southern California, where he ended Saturday’s card in second place on the winter meet standings with 18 winners from 81 mounts. Runaway leader is Juan Hernandez with 37 victories from 139 rides.
On Saturday, Dettori landed optional claimers on the dirt via Piroli (trained by Michael McCarthy) and Teddy’s Barino (Mark Glatt) plus a turf double for Powell with Harper’s Gallop and 7.2-1 shot Freedom Flyer. He made all on the latter on the downhill turf track before holding the favorite Big Summer by a neck.
“I had some good rides, they all ran super,” added Dettori. “The last filly, she’s very game and I was eager for the wire to come, they were coming from every direction, and we managed to hang on. It’s been a super day. All the horses and all the people, they are all for it and they have been fantastic.”
Set to retire after the Breeders’ Cup back at Santa Anita in November, Dettori wasted no time winning admirers with a treble on the opening day of the current meet, including Country Grammer’s victory in the G2 San Antonio.
According to the Daily Racing Form, he has also picked up the ride on leading fancy Newgrange, trained by Phil D'Amato, in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4.
On the downside, Dettori’s dreams of securing a live mount for the Kentucky Derby met a setback when Newgate, whom he partnered to win the G3 Robert B Lewis Stakes earlier this month, was knocked off the Triple Crown trail with what was described as a “minor hock issue”.
• Visit the Santa Anita website
Where the clock is king: which are the oldest track records still standing in the US?
Eureka moment: Secretariat’s son Maritime Traveler is a welcome surprise
The making of the Triple Crown: how Sir Barton broke his maiden in the Kentucky Derby
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires