Frankie Dettori – another great achievement
Jockey Frankie Dettori claimed his 50th career Royal Ascot win with victory on Osaila in the Sandringham Handicap on Wednesday.
The Italian-born 44-year-old won on the Richard Hannon-trained 13-2 shot in a photo finish from Always Smile.
“Fifty is a big number,” he said. “To join the greats like Lester Piggott and Pat Eddery means a lot.”
Earlier, Free Eagle, the 5-2 favourite, edged out The Grey Gatsby by a short head to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
Ridden by Pat Smullen, the Dermot Weld-trained horse held off the fast-finishing second, with Western Hymn third.
Frankie Bounces Back
Dettori joins a select group of three jockeys by passing the 50 winners mark at the Royal meeting.
Piggott leads the way on all-time triumphs, with 116, followed by Eddery (73) and Willie Carson (56).
Dettori made his trademark flying dismount after his latest success and said took particular delight in winning for his “boss”, Sheikh Joaan.
Dettori has bounced back after splitting from his long-term employers Godolphin in 2012.
He was also banned for six months after testing positive for cocaine.
Weld said Free Eagle, returning after 242 days off, will now have the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October as a target.
The Grey Gatsby, under Jamie Spencer, struggled for room before closing the gap to the leader.
Free Eagle had been off the track since finishing third in the Champion Stakes behind winner Noble Mission at Ascot in October.
The four-year-old showed no signs of rustiness here, as he quickened smartly to take the lead when French pacesetter Gailo Chop faded.
Last year’s French Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner The Grey Gatsby travelled well throughout but was short of racing room, and could not catch Free Eagle when he was finally able to push ahead.
Thursday
Day three of the meeting is Ladies’ Day where the feature race of the meeting, the Gold Cup, takes place.
Aidan O’Brien – excellent record in the Gold Cup
Weld and Smullen will be on the look-out for a big double with Forgotten Rules, providing the ground is not considered too firm for the horse.
Aidan O’Brien, who has saddled a record six previous winners of the Gold Cup including four-time victor Yeats, runs Kingfisher.
Ryan Moore – winner of five of the 12 races on the opening two days – takes the ride, with rivals including Mizzou, Simenon and Trip To Paris.
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