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British Champions Day

Frankie Dettori top of the shop on Champions Day and set to star again

ASCOT, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Frankie Dettori celebrates after he rides clear on Cracksman to win The QIPCO Champion Stakes during QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse on October 20, 2018 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Imag
Frankie Dettori: has won six races on British Champions Day, including last year's Champion Stakes with CracksmanCredit: Charlie Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Frankie Dettori’s possible book of rides for Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday has bookmakers as concerned as they were at the height of summer and it is little surprise, given he is the most successful rider in the lucrative raceday’s eight-year history.

The superstar 48-year-old jockey, boosted by the news Enable will be staying in training as a six-year-old next year, will be looking to round off a rampant few months in top-level races with success at the £4.2 million raceday, a meeting he has struck at six times in the last four years.

Frankie Dettori celebrates winning the Long Distance Cup on Stradivarius
Frankie Dettori celebrates winning the Long Distance Cup on StradivariusCredit: Edward Whitaker

Although he failed to win on the first four Champions Days – he did not ride at the 2013 meeting due to injury – Dettori has been a prolific winner on this high-profile card since 2015, including two winners in each of the last two seasons.

Ryan Moore and Pat Smullen are next best with a Champions Day haul of four wins each, followed by Johnny Murtagh and Tom Queally on three.


British Champions Day - Frankie Dettori's wins

2018 Cracksman (Champion Stakes)
2018 Stradivarius (Long Distance Cup)
2017 Cracksman (Champion Stakes)
2017 Persuasive (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes)
2016 Journey (Fillies & Mares Stakes)
2015 Flying Officer (Long Distance Cup)


Dettori has also finished second twice at the fixture and third three times, including on Stradivarius in the Qipco-sponsored Long Distance Cup two years ago. The dual winner of the Gold Cup and Stayers’ Million prize could add to Dettori's Champions Day tally on Saturday if he gets the opportunity to defend his Long Distance Cup title, while his book of rides is also set to include favourites Advertise, Star Catcher and Lord North.

All six of Dettori’s Champions Day successes have come for trainer John Gosden, who has also provided 14 of the jockey's 17 Group 1 wins this season.


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Deputy news editor

Published on inBritish Champions Day

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