The Frankie phenomenon: how Dettori became racing's irreplaceable star

As the grandstand burst into a deafening roar during the fifth race of Gold Cup day at Royal Ascot, it would be little surprise if those in neighbouring towns and villages, momentarily stunned by the eruption, correctly guessed the identity of the jockey who was whipping the crowd into such a frenzy.

They might have guessed his identity because there is only one rider who can generate such noise from the normally sedate royal-meeting crowd. Or, more likely, they might have guessed his name because the overwhelming majority of the general public know only the name of one jockey.

Frankie Dettori had to settle for a stunning four-timer on that astonishing day at Royal Ascot, but it was just the latest chapter in a remarkable career that has seen the ebullient Italian become a household name and further burnished his reputation among the general public.

Dettori is no mere media darling – at 48 he is riding as well as ever, picking up a string of major prizes this year, including the Oaks and three Group 1s at Royal Ascot – but his position as an icon of British sport makes him a valuable asset for racing, according to Rod Street, chief executive of Great British Racing, the sport's promotional body.

"Frankie is a standing dish with people who interact with racing occasionally," he said. "He has a profound effect on the general public’s interaction with the sport. His value to racing is immeasurable.

"Look at Royal Ascot and the once-a-year racegoers who attend as an example – they all take it for granted that Frankie will ride big winners there and work his magic.

"Great British Racing has undertaken lots of consumer research over the years to find out who the public identify with.

Frankie Dettori: 'definitely racing’s biggest ambassador'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Our most recent findings suggested in terms of a horse it was either Red Rum or Desert Orchid, while in terms of jockey it was either Frankie Dettori or Lester Piggott.

"He is definitely racing’s biggest ambassador. Nobody is as immediately recognisable with the public as Frankie."

Dettori’s engaging personality, which most famously manifests itself in regular flying dismounts after big-race wins, has long made him a favourite with racegoers.

"It’s his personality as well as his prowess in the saddle,” Street said. "He showed that personality to the non-racing public when he was a team captain on the BBC’s A Question Of Sport."

Many of Dettori’s biggest days, including his Magnificent Seven in September 1996, have been at Ascot, a place he has fondly called "home".

Nick Smith, director of racing and communications at Ascot, said: "It’s hard to think of anyone who has contributed so much to racing as Frankie Dettori. He’s delivered right from the moment he started.

"Ebullient as a kid, he became racing’s adopted son very quickly after his Magnificent Seven at Ascot.

"I was there as a punter that day and will never forget the way he took the crowd along with him from the third winner onwards."

Smith added: "In some ways it was back to the day of the Magnificent Seven at Royal Ascot last month. I saw that same wave to the crowd again and that same response to the public.

"He’s the ultimate showman without in any way trivialising what he does. He’s the ultimate professional and hits exactly the right balance of making sure he promotes the sport while overseeing his reputation.

"When people overseas get to see the Frankie magic – at the Breeders’ Cup and in Hong Kong, for instance – they all see for themselves how lucky we are in Britain to have him."

Paddy Power are among many bookmakers who have been hard-hit by the Italian during his three decades in the saddle.

They would be the first to acknowledge, though, just how much Dettori has done to promote racing over the years.

Frankie Dettori and John Gosden have forged a formidable partnershipCredit: Edward Whitaker

Spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Frankie has been involved in two of the most extraordinary days the betting industry has ever known – Magnificent Seven day, and those four winners on Gold Cup day last month.

"When he went clear on Turgenev in the Britannia and looked certain to make it five straight winners on the day our traders started dusting off the televisions in case we had to flog them!"

Richard Birch

Backing Frankie blind not such a foolish bet

Part of Frankie Dettori's appeal stems from the same source as all other jockeys' popularity: he makes those who back him rich.

Despite being well into the autumn of his career, Dettori is riding better than ever. His strike-rate this season stands at 27 per cent, which, if he can maintain it until the end of the season, will be the best he has recorded.

Such is his strike-rate over recent years, if you were to have placed a £10 bet on each of Dettori’s rides since the start of 2015, you would currently be £480.16 richer.

Furthermore, if you avoided the all-weather and simply backed Dettori’s mounts on turf, you would be £850.91 better off.

Significantly, those winners were achieved at a lofty strike-rate of more than 23 per cent, lowering the prospect of a costly long losing run.

With all that in mind, it’s no wonder so many punters had backed the six-fold on day three of Royal Ascot and had traders diving for cover after Stradivarius gave the jockey his fourth winner on the day in as many rides.

It’s not exactly the most thrilling and innovative method for finding winners, but it’s proved to be a tried-and-tested formula in recent years.

And as Dettori grows ever more selective in his choice of rides – favouring big meetings and star horses over the daily grind – the emphasis on quality over quantity has benefited him as much as it has punters.

Andrew Wilsher

Jason Weaver on how Dettori is still riding at his best

The former champion apprentice offers unique insight on how Frankie still operates at the peak of his powers

Frankie has his own gymnasium and he’ll do a minimum of 5km on the treadmill on a Monday or Tuesday when he isn’t riding. As a result, he’s in tip-top condition.

In the old days he’d have put on 2-3lb by taking two days off and would have to work doubly hard to get that weight off.

Another factor is his relationship with John Gosden – Frankie has so much respect for the man. There is no doubt that Gosden gets the best out of him both as a person and a rider.

Most people get nervous on the big days – whether it be for an important exam or sporting occasion – and when the moment comes they can be drained.

Frankie doesn’t burn that energy off in the two to four hours before he rides. He conserves it, while there will be other jockeys who spend all morning wandering around draining the tank and are empty when they go on to the track. Frankie tries to channel that nervous energy to improve his performance in the saddle.

People don’t realise the importance of a rider’s first contact with the horse in the paddock. Frankie has a lovely, soft, gentle touch. His first touch is always respectful, and the horse will respond to that.

Riding is not all about sheer power and strength, and Frankie can also show that silky-soft side when required.

Frankie is obviously riding at the top of his game at present and is brimming with confidence. When he’s in that mindset he’s unstoppable. He’s got it all going for him at the moment.

Frankie Detttori is all smiles as he jumps off Too Darn Hot's backCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The most important thing, though, is that 5km on the treadmill at the start of the week. By taking Mondays and Tuesdays off it gives him the freshness he needs for the big days.

There is no point legging any jockey up – and that includes Frankie – if he or she doesn’t want to be there.

His results this season confirm that Frankie most definitely wants to be out there.

Four Dettori highlights this season

We're only halfway through the season, but it's already been one to remember for Frankie Dettori. Here are four unforgettable moments featuring racing's greatest showman.

Coronet crowned Queen in France
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, June 30

Dettori’s success this year has not only come in Britain, as the legendary rider crossed the Channel to Saint-Cloud last weekend to land a first Group 1 win for the consistent Coronet.

Coronet: was guided by Dettori to win her first top-level successCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Patience was key to the victory as the five-year-old gradually wore down leader Ziyad before taking over late on to win by a short neck.

It was another case of keeping calm and picking the right moment, something Dettori is an expert at, and it took his Group 1 tally to five this year so far.

Stradivarius hits the high note at Royal Ascot
Gold Cup, June 20

What better way for Frankie to wrap-up a four-timer at Royal Ascot than aboard star stayer Stradivarius?

Having won Thursday’s opening three contests with A’Ali, Sangarius and Star Catcher, there was plenty of buzz going into Dettori’s most fancied ride of the week, and the five-year-old justified that support by claiming a seventh consecutive success. The son of Sea The Stars also became the first horse since Yeats to secure back-to-back Gold Cup victories.

It wasn’t that simple, though, and having been boxed in by his rivals it took an expert bit of riding to manoeuvre Stradivarius out and land the spoils. A less experienced jockey might have struggled but not Frankie.

Crystal Ocean rides the wave to Group 1 glory
Prince of Wales’s Stakes, June 19

Often touted the most talented horse in training yet to win a Group 1, Crystal Ocean finally dismissed that tag as Dettori guided the five-year-old to victory in Royal Ascot's richest contest.

Crystal Ocean: partnered by Dettori to win the Prince of Wales's StakesCredit: Bryn Lennon

It was his first ride on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained runner but the two could have been mistaken for a regular partnership, as Dettori rode Crystal Ocean to perfection following an awkward start and enjoyed his first Prince of Wales's success since 2011.

Anapurna gives plenty at Epsom
Investec Oaks, May 31

Dettori’s fifth victory in the Oaks at Epsom came courtesy of the John Gosden-trained Anapurna, who also delivered Frankel his first European Classic success as a sire.

The filly was the lesser fancied of the two Gosden representatives, with stablemate Mehdaayih going off favourite, but Frankie proved the doubters wrong as Anapurna hit the front two furlongs out and after briefly surrendering the lead to Pink Dogwood came again to score by a neck.
Andrew Wilsher

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