Frankie: Don't write me off yet

13 April 2012

Frankie Dettori is taking over as one of the resident captains on

What if chief steward Sue Barker puts him on the spot to pinpoint the household name who has been seen so rarely this season that he lies among the journeymen outside the top 20 in the jockeys' table?

Alternatively, what if she quizzes him about the mystery guest who has had to miss big races in the past couple of years with odd ailments like piles and chicken pox?

Dettori would get you maximum points in both cases but the most identifiable figure in a sport still short of charismatic riders has a short reply to those who feel that 2002 is turning into an anticlimactic year.

The message to the doubters as he prepares for the start of York's historic Ebor meeting tomorrow is think again. He says: "Every year is different and things can't always go just as smoothly as you would want them to but I've won two British classics along with several big races abroad for Godolphin and there's a long way to go in the season."

Racecourse regulars tend to fall into two distinct camps when it comes to assessing Dettori.

The old guard, reared on a diet of champions who had their noses to the grindstone six days and four nights a week, pepper their gossip with suggestions that his refusal to belt around Britain's motorways for ordinary rides in low-grade races has dulled his edge.

But tell that to the massive crowd who roared him to a five-timer at Newmarket two weeks ago, or to the jockeys who chased in vain as he executed front-running tactics to perfection aboard Kazzia in the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks.

In reality, the subdued form of the Godolphin team on home soil this season has seen Dettori operating with one hand tied behind his back. But quiet season or not, he still boasts a strike rate that none of the other top jockeys can match and a confidence in his own ability which grows with every winner he partners.

More importantly, the Godolphin machine traditionally moves up a gear in the second half of the season and the man responsible for steering its stars to victory is hoping history repeats itself as summer turns to autumn.

He said: "The Ebor meeting has a special atmosphere and all the top jockeys want to be at their very best for it.

"Fortunately, Godolphin has done well there in the past and I think I have some very good rides to look forward to again this time."

Sakhee got Ebor week off to a stunning start for Dettori last year and paved the way for his subsequent Arc de Triomphe romp by making some high-class horses look second rate in the Juddmonte International Stakes.

No one is expecting similar fireworks when the Sussex Stakes runner-up Noverre lines up for the same race but the four-year-old has no Rock of Gibraltar to contend with this time and is more than ready for his first step up to 10 furlongs in tomorrow's £450,000 contest.

Wednesday sees Dettori back in the fray when Kazzia, one of the most successful German imports since Jurgen Klinsmann arrived at White Hart Lane, bids to retain her unbeaten record against Sir Michael Stoute's top-class filly Islington in the Aston Upthorpe Yorkshire Oaks.

The Italian describes the unbeaten Kazzia as "a real fighter who gives you a bit more every time you ask" and was beaming after the St Leger favourite put in a striking piece of work on his first morning back since a ten-day break caused by chicken pox last week.

He added: "It's going to take a very good filly to get past her and I'm looking forward to riding Noverre again as we've thought for some time that a mile and a quarter is just want he wants now."

Three Points looks like being Dettori's mount in Thursday's Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes, while the likes of Romantic Liason, Naheef and Country Reel should ensure that Godolphin followers have plenty to interest them in the supporting races.

And what of that upcoming role replacing snooker star John Parrott on A Question Of Sport?

Dettori has already guested on the show several times and, as an avid follower of Arsenal and Juventus, has no doubt that he will match his opposing captain on football matters

He added: "The football will be no problem and, hopefully, there will be a few racing questions too but I'll probably have to do a bit of swotting up to match Mr McCoist on some of the other sports.

"Whatever happens, we're going to have a great laugh making the show.

"It isn't life and death and in any case we have some important business to attend to at York before then."

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