Its mid-August and the Frankie Dettori farewell tour headed to Normandy in France on Sunday. The Italian maestro was seen at his absolute best aboard Inspiral at Deauville, winning the €1 million Prix Jacques le Marois a record eighth time.
The four-year-old filly owned by Cheveley Park Stud joined Miesque, Spinning World and her former stablemate Palace Pier as the only dual winners of this milestone of the European Flat season.
The Group 1 contest is run over the straight mile and drawn closest to the stands’ side rail in one, Dettori took the risk of missing the start on the filly to drop behind and across, before gradually working Inspiral into the race behind the guaranteed pace-setter Big Rock.
Inspiral is too good! (Pic – Racing TV)
Big Rock put it up to Inspiral over the final furlong, before going down fighting a length and a quarter back in second.
“It was a great ride because we were drawn one and the pace was all on the far side,” said John Gosden. “Dettori moved across and he came round the long way in the end.”
Gosden added: “We couldn’t be more thrilled with her. She’s a great filly.”
The Breeders’ Cup Mile looks a strong possibility for Inspiral at the end of the year. Before that she is likely to run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes where she will meet the top-class three-year-old filly Tahiyra.
Should Inspiral head to Ascot she would be part of Dettori’s final book of rides in Britain, while she could also provide a fairytale swansong in California. Post-race, Gosden was in a buoyant mood commenting on his jockey’s perfect adieu to Deauville.
“There are four great races here; obviously there’s the Arc, the Prix du Jockey Club, the Diane and the Jacques le Marois,” he said. “For him to come here to Deauville, which he loves, and win it again. I can’t keep up.”
Enjoy the replay:
“To win it with Palace Pier twice, and this filly, it’s a great honour. It’s a fabulous meeting, a wonderful atmosphere, and a great race.”
As Inspiral’s owners made way, silverware in hand, Dettori was joined on the podium by a guard of honour from his weighing-room colleagues and embraced by the most popular jockey in the history of racing in France, 81-year-old Yves Saint-Martin.
The winning rider commented on the applause from the crowd: “It’s probably taking the gloss off Inspiral, she did all the work. I couldn’t write it. To win it again, it’s amazing.”
Dettori added of the winner: “She has her moments. We took Paddington on – somebody had to do it – on heavy ground and it didn’t work out. But I was easy on the filly because this was always the plan. She needs a good pace and not soft ground. She got both here and when she’s good, she’s very good.”
