Unlike Glazer, my boss is in it for love

Equally, in racing, the billionaire owners are far less controversial. Coolmore and Godolphin would not exist without their backers so there are no real issues with tradition.

In football, however, Manchester United and Chelsea were winning matches and trophies long before Abramovich or Glazer were even born.

Magnier and Sheikh Mohammed have a host of Royal Ascot runners at York this week when their operations will once again do battle for some of the most prestigious races in the calendar. Last year, Godolphin made hay with Dettori riding six winners, but this time the festival will be deprived of its most charismatic pilot due to a six-day suspension.

Stewards took exception to what they viewed as careless riding in a handicap at Haydock two weeks ago when Dettori's mount caused another runner to take a nasty fall.

For the champion jockey, 34, whose career will always be associated with Ascot after riding his 'Magnificent Seven' winners there in a non-Royal meeting in 1996, the ban is a major blow.

Dettori said: "For me, Ascot is the Olympics. Every day I go to work I try to get horses ready for Ascot.

"Unfortunately, I am not going to be there this year. It goes without saying I am disappointed and, in fact, I'm gutted.

"The penalty is fair, unfortunately it's come at the wrong time. It was an accident.

"There was a horse behind me who I didn't see. I moved and he fell. Luckily, no horse or jockey was hurt. That's life, though. I just have to take it on the chin and move on.

"I will be going to Italy for a little break. Six days is not a lot in terms of the overall championship, but it's a lot for me in terms of big races. I'm going to try as much as I can when I'm back and hopefully I can retain my title."

In Dettori's absence, 24-year-old Australian Kerrin McEvoy will be wearing the famous Godolphin blue and will get the pick of the stable's array of top-class rides at the Royal meeting. The Italian has no qualms about McEvoy's lack of experience - only one season in British racing - and even reckons he could emerge as the festival's leading jockey.

Dettori said: "I'm going to speak to Kerrin every day on the phone and try to help him as much as I can. He is very much a great jockey in the making, he already knows what to do.

"He's got a year's experience under his belt. The only thing I can do is talk to him about my experiences and, hopefully, he can knock some winners in. I would back Kerrin to be the leading jockey at the meeting. In my view, it's between him and Kieren Fallon."

Dettori's greatest regret is missing the ride on Dubawi in today's Group One St James's Palace Stakes. "Dubawi didn't stay in the Derby, but he's going to be the stable star," he said. "He's one to follow for the rest of the season."

Dubawi lost out to runaway winner Motivator at Epsom where racegoers were dazzled by the ease with which Michael Bell's colt destroyed the field.

Motivator will be on the trail of more success at Sandown in next month's Coral-Eclipse Stakes when his rivals could include Godolphin's Shamardal, winner of the French 2,000 Guineas and Derby.

Dettori is in no doubt about the class of his likely opponent. He said: "I think Motivator will be very hard to beat. He's a very, very good horse. I was mightily impressed with him at Epsom."

Away from the racecourse, Dettori is busy expanding his business empire. To join other endorsed products such as Frankie's ice cream, pizza and tomato sauce, Dettori's grooming set for men was launched this week.

Available at duty free shops, the range includes hair gel, deodorant, moisturiser and eau de toilette.

Dettori added: "We have been working on fragrance for nine months. The hardest part was the testing - to come up with something I liked - but in the end we chose this smell."

With the riding ban set to expire next week, Godolphin will be hoping his nose for winners remains just as strong.