Dettori dozen: Advertise gives rider 12th Group 1 of 2019 in Maurice de Gheest

A 12th Group 1 for the season and it's barely August - there has never been a season like this for Frankie Dettori in any of the 33 that preceded it.

A week ago it was 'just' nine and, despite joking he had cost himself another top level success on Thursday when going too soon aboard Mehdaayih at Goodwood, it is clear Dettori is brimming with the sort of confidence reserved for very few sportsman at the top of their game, whatever the game.

At Deauville on Sunday he had a partner in Advertise who boasted arguably the best form on offer for the Prix Maurice de Gheest. The pair were always just holding the relentless thrust of Brando, while Space Blues just got the better of Spinning Memories to ensure a podium reserved exclusively for British-trained horses.

"I was able to slot in behind Pretty Pollyanna and at the two furlong marker I had to take a pull because he idles a little bit when he gets to the front," said Dettori. "When I saw the others coming at the 300 [metre mark] I had to kick and he showed a good turn of foot. He was just idling a bit but when he felt Brando coming, he took off again.

"I was alone for a long while so that was a danger because I was there to be shot at. But he came here in tremendous form and he's a tough horse, he doesn't know how to run a bad race."

Martyn Meade had made no secret of the fact he felt circumstances had conspired against Advertise when beaten two and a half lengths by Ten Sovereigns at Newmarket in the July Cup but Dettori holds a different view.

"We can look at it every which way but I wasn't gaining on Ten Sovereigns, he was going away," the jockey said. "The ground was very quick but on that day Ten Sovereigns was unbeatable. This guy is solid, three Group 1s he's won and he always runs his race. It's great for Martyn and everyone."

Now fully ensconced at historic Manton and with the poor form of the spring now well behind him, Meade continues to impress as a man who, when he is sent a good horse, can be relied upon to make the most of it.

With 2017 Foret hero Aclaim now at stud and Eminent heading the same way, he is also now extremely popular with the bloodstock fraternity, a factor that won't be lost on the trainer as he considers the next move for Advertise before he heads to the covering sheds at the end of the season.

Advertise and Frankie Dettori return in triumph after landing the LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at DeauvilleCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

"He's done everything he needs to do," said Meade. "You have to always finish on a high so I'm going to be pretty positive where I put him next time. I'm not going to throw him in just for the chance, we're not just in it for the prize-money but to actually make a really nice stallion and I think he's proving that’s what he really is."

Dettori was whispering sweet nothings in Meade's ear about the Haydock Sprint Cup and the Qipco Champions Sprint but Meade remains his own man and was not to be rushed.

"He might run once or twice more, maybe we could come back to France on Arc day for the Foret," said Meade. "I think he has to be up there as the best I've trained so far. We've only been at this for a relatively short period of time and we’ve just been really lucky we've had two or three really really nice horses. Long may it continue, we could be rustling in the bottom drawer looking for the next one."

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