Gregory gives Frankie Dettori his first win at his last Royal Ascot (Megan Ridgwell)
Day 2: Gregory Takes the Queen’s Vase in Frontrunning Fashion
Day 3: The Ninth Gold Cup Victory for Frankie
Day 4: Frankie’s 80th Royal Ascot Win + Coppice Superb in Sandringham
By Michaela Moricova
After a luckless opening day at Royal Ascot, Frankie Dettori showcased his skills on Wednesday when he piloted home GREGORY in the G2 Queen’s Vase. The champion sent the John & Thady Gosden trained bay to the front from the start, set a solid pace, and despite the race being a mile and six furlongs long, Gregory has always had enough in the tank to defy the most serious rival.
Fourteen three-year-olds lined up in this race, perceived as one of the trials for the last part of the British Triple Crown, a mile and six furlongs long St Leger. Gregory was sent out as a favorite, given he easily scored a Listed last time; moreover, the fans were eager to see Frankie Dettori breaking the duck. And he didn’t disappoint as Gregory galloped with gusto, and in the final stretch, Frankie successfully encouraged him to fight for victory with Saint George (Murphy). Still, the grey had to settle for second place as Gregory, the son of Golden Horn, was too good on Wednesday and struck gold from the front. He crossed the wire in 3m 3.13s, leaving Saint George behind by a length and a half, with Godolphin’s Chesspiece (Doyle) finishing third.
“I thought this winner was never going to come this year. I had three seconds yesterday, but I thought this horse was my best chance today.
“I knew this horse was good enough, but I wasn’t so sure about his experience. He is very laid-back at home and I thought if he doesn’t jump, he will get lost, but he jumped great, I got him to the front and I knew he would stay very well.
“I was in front for a long time and, when Oisin [Murphy, on runner-up Saint George] came to me, I thought ‘oh, no, not another second’. To this horse’s credit he really stuck his neck out.
“He was like a sleeping giant in the yard, and all of a sudden he’s a Royal Ascot winner. Potentially, he could be a nice St Leger horse for the end of the season, but John and Thady will work something out.
“It’s my last Royal Ascot and to ride a winner is fantastic. It’s amazing the reception I got because it’s my last season – I’m both sad and happy. I’ve got another three days here and it’s nice to get one on the board.
“Ascot very kindly gave me a box for my family today and most of them are here, so I’m glad I could ride a winner in front of them.”
Frankie Dettori on his first win of the 2023 Royal Ascot meeting – Ascot Racecourse Press Release
Thanks to Gregory, Frankie Dettori achieved his 78th Royal Ascot victory, while he recorded the first one 33 years ago. We’ll see whether he’ll add another one in the upcoming days. It’s likely as Thursday he will ride two favorites, two second chances, and a third chance, which is currently very interesting as it’s two-year-old No Nay Mets trained by George Weaver who won Wednesday’s Queen Mary Stakes with Crimson Advocate.
The Ninth Gold Cup Victory for Frankie
On Thursday, Dettori had his last spin in the ultra-long Gold Cup over two miles and four furlongs. In the past, he scored the race eight times, including three victories aboard legendary Stradivarius. And in 2023, at his final Royal Ascot, the champion added another triumph as he piloted home talented COURAGE MON AMI owned by Wathan Racing. Their Gregory shone brightly in Wednesday’s Queen’s Vase, also under Frankie.
Courage Mon Ami, a four-year-old gelding, showed some potential last year when winning a couple of small races; however, he confirmed to be capable of much more among the stayers this year as he bagged a Class 2 handicap. The son of Frankel looked promising; still, he was about to meet some staying stars in the G1 Gold Cup, but under Dettori, he handled his Graded premiere superbly. Galloping in the field, he relaxed for most of the race, and because Frankie patiently waited until a gap opened at the fence, he saved lots of ground in the final turn. Thanks to this maneuver, Courage Mon Ami was suddenly right behind the leaders, and as soon as Frankie showed him the way, the John & Thady Gosden trained bay totally went for it.Although favorite Coltraine (Murphy) fought bravely until the end, Courage Mon Ami prevailed by ¾ of a length in 4m 20.97s. Behind this couple, Subjectivist (Fanning) finished third after setting the pace. He won the Gold Cup in 2021, but being often at the sidelines, he made his seasonal debut on Thursday and probably lacked a bit of fitness to join the fight for the win.
“I didn’t expect it [The Gold Cup win]. The last five years I’ve had Stradivarius, so the pressure was on. This one I thought was a bit of a chancer coming from handicaps, but John was confident. I rode him cold and it just happened – I got the splits when I wanted to and he showed a turn of foot. The last half a furlong, I couldn’t give in to Oisin, I thought: ‘no, we’ve got this far, please keep going’. It’s unbelievable, on my last year winning the Gold Cup. Myself, The King and Queen Camilla had a talk beforehand talking about his win and my relationship with his mother, Queen Elizabeth, then the next race I go on and win the Gold Cup and he presents the trophy. Amazing, really amazing.
“I wanted to ride him to run well, because I really don’t know the horse and I didn’t know his capability or if he was able to stay. I knew there would be pace, I wanted to swing out wide but Stéphane kept me in and actually won me the race, because I thought: ‘I’ll cut the corner and see what happens’. Then it happened!
“Nine Gold Cups, what can you say – amazing. I’m speechless because I didn’t expect it, to be honest with you.”
On receiving the Gold Cup from The King, having received it previously from The Late Queen, he said: “It’s my last year, so this is the only chance I had. It’s pretty emotional. [The King] is a lovely man and Camilla is lovely and it is an honour to be able to ride for them [in other races] and to win the Gold Cup and be presented with the trophy [by them].”
He added: “I didn’t believe it, to go from a handicap to a Gold Cup. But John Gosden is a great trainer and he does things like that, sometimes if I don’t believe it, I’ll just go along with it!”
On taking his children up onto the podium with him, he said: “I said: ‘listen, we won the Gold Cup, we can go up there and shake hands with The King’, so it’s a great thrill for them. Now they are old enough to understand. For the last 18 years, they’ve just thought I was a guy on the TV, maybe like Peppa Pig or something! So they really know what I’m doing.”
Frankie Dettori on his ninth Gold Cup triumph – Ascot Racecourse Press Release
Frankie’s 80th Royal Ascot Win + Coppice Superb in Sandringham
On Friday, Dettori again had several promising rides ahead, and even though he didn’t score in either of the G1s, he still had reasons to celebrate. Thanks to PORTA FORTUNA, Dettori reached the goal of 80 Royal Ascot wins, while a couple of hours later, he surpassed the number abord COPPICE.
Two-year-old Porta Fortuna seemed like a good chance for the G3 Albany Stakes over six furlongs. In the field of seventeen fillies, she broke away at 5/1 and galloped close behind the leaders. The daughter of Caravaggio then quickly answered to Frankie’s que, went forward in the closing stages, and when she snatched up the first place, she hung onto it. She crossed the wire in 1m 13.97s, leaving second Matrika (Moore) behind by a length. In her third start, Porta Fortuna remained unbeaten when capturing her second G3 victory for trainer Donnacha O’Brien.
“Eighty winners at Royal Ascot – unbelievable! I’ve fulfilled my dream. Ascot has always been special to me, I love it so much, and to reach 80 winners is incredible.
“One hundred per cent I wanted to get to the 80 winners… I thought ‘God, I’ve got to get three more, but it is easier said than done. Now I have done it, ‘yes!’ It is a big number!
“This is a solid filly – she’s speedy, she’s got a turn of foot and she gave me an armchair ride. Well done Donnacha. At the moment this filly feels like a sprinter, but only time will tell.
“I’m only thinking about the next race now, I’m enjoying the moment.”
Frankie Dettori on the Albany and reaching 80 Royal Ascot winners – Ascot Racecourse Press Release
In the Sandringham Stakes, Frankie secured his second victory of the day. He piloted a join-favorite Coppice who superbly handled the distance of a mile, and in a massive field of twenty-one three-year-old fillies, she triumphed by a length. The daughter of Kingman failed to succeed when tackling the G3 level, but in this Class 2 handicap, she scored in 1m 41.74s for John & Thady Gosden. The other join-favorite Jackie Oh (Moore) couldn’t get past 20th place as outsider Breege (Hart) was the one finishing closest to Coppice.
“That was a good effort and the Juddmonte team are here, including His Highness [Prince Saud Abdullah] and all the stud people, so to get a winner for them is amazing. They have been great supporters of me going back to the filly Enable and other good horses.
“At one point we thought Coppice was a Guineas filly, but she didn’t come to hand until too late, so we put her in this race thinking she would be competitive and she was. We do think she will be a Group-race filly.
“I tracked the leaders, I got her settled, I got the splits when I wanted, and she did the rest. It was a very smooth performance and, in these races, you don’t usually get that.
“I love Ascot, I will miss it, but I’m enjoying the moment. I won my first Gold Cup in 1992 and 31 years later I ride another one, my ninth. It’s been a good place for me and I’ve still got tomorrow.”
Frankie Dettori on his Sandringham triumph – Ascot Racecourse Press Release
One on One with Frankie Dettori:
