Horseracing

Book Now

Five of Frankie's finest rides

25th November 2023

As the charismatic Italian jockey, Frankie Dettori rides out a swansong season on the South Downs we thought we would celebrate five of his finest victories at Goodwood Racecourse across the years.

  • Goodwood Racecourse

  • Qatar Goodwood Festival

  • goodwood estate

epictetus040823.jpg

Epictetus - 2023

Epictetus provided Frankie Dettori with this final Qatar Goodwood Festival victory at Goodwood Racecourse having retired from race riding in the UK this Autumn. Epictetus came home strongly under a perfectly judged Dettori ride to upset the favourite Nostrum in the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes. Winner of a soft ground Derby trial at Epsom in April, Epictetus was disappointing in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot but the combination of a drop back in trip on ground he likes proved the catalyst to a return to form.

The winner followed front-running Nostrum and, once the gap came entering the final furlong, his finishing kick proved too much for the leader. There was a length between the duo at the line with trainer Thady Gosden saying: "It was a perfect ride from Frankie.”

strad-1.jpg

Stradivarius - 2020

Perhaps Frankie Dettori’s greatest riding partnership in an illustrious career was born during his plethora of stunning victories on star stayer Stradivarius whose record fourth Goodwood Cup came in 2020.

Lining up with a slice of history at stake, Stradivarius had previously shared the honour of three Goodwood Cup wins with Double Trigger who was successful in 1995, 1997 and 1998. Much anticipation surrounded his date with destiny in the race as Nayef Road took the seven-strong field along. He still held the advantage entering the straight, with Stradivarius looking a bit short of room. It was not until inside the final furlong that Stradivarius found the necessary opening and quickened impressively, taking the lead half a furlong out and recording an ultimately cosy length success. The 15/8 second favourite, was the season’s Irish Derby winner Santiago, who held every chance two furlongs out but was unable to quicken in the final furlong and finished third.

Magical Memory – 2015 Stewards’ Cup

Magical Memory – 2015 Stewards’ Cup

Magical Memory - 2015

Frankie Dettori, won his first Coral Stewards' Cup thanks to Magical Memory, and with it landed the top jockey title of the meeting for the fifth successive occasion in 2015.

Sent off the 6-1 favourite, the Charlie Hills-trained three-year-old was drawn in stall one. From a compromised inside draw, it needed both horse and jockey to be brave to take a gap which could so easily have closed, but take it they did and a smart turn of foot at the furlong pole sealed matters. Dettori’s enthusiasm for victory on the biggest stage has always been undiminished, and he gave the crowd a familiarly rapturous response to their cheers in the winner's enclosure, leaping from Magical Memory's saddle in trademark fashion.
In winning, Magical Memory, became a rare three-year-old winner of the famous sprint - the first since Danetime in 1997. Frankie Dettori exclaimed after the ride: "I've been waiting years for this, I've been beaten a few times in this race, but what a horse, very brave.”

In winning, Magical Memory, became a rare three-year-old winner of the famous sprint - the first since Danetime in 1997. Frankie Dettori exclaimed after the ride: "I've been waiting years for this, I've been beaten a few times in this race, but what a horse, very brave.”

Ouija Board – 2006 Nassau Stakes

It was a hot renewal of the Nassau Stakes in the summer of 2006 but went down as a truly epic battle between two magnificent mares. Aside from the two battle-hardened mares Ouija Board and Alexandra Goldrun, the race brought together Coronation Stakes winner Nannina and Pretty Polly runner-up Chelsea Rose to name a few.

The confirmed stayer Chelsea Rose set the pace until Frankie Dettori, cognisant that the ten-furlong trip would play into the strengths of his own willing partner, Ouija Board willed the mare to the front more than three furlongs. Jockey, Kevin Manning, was alert to this possibility and aware that his mount Alexander Goldrun excelled in a battle, so moved smoothly through from last place to let his mare eyeball the leader. Ouija Board met that gaze, unflinchingly.

For another furlong the two raced nose for nose, this was something special. The other horses were forgotten. The rest of the world was forgotten. Everything shrank to Alexander Goldrun nearer the stands, Ouija Board on the rail, the eye snapping back and forth between their bobbing heads as the line drew nearer. In the last mad scramble of diminishing yardage Ouija Board found from somewhere the will to make one last mighty effort.

If the judge was trembling as he studied the photo-finish print, he was not alone in that. If everyone had held their breath for two furlongs, they were not letting it out yet. The words were announced across the Downs, 'first, number four, Ouija Board'. A short head and perhaps one of Frankie Dettori’s greatest examples of unwavering strength and determination in the saddle.

Iffraaj – 2006 Lennox Stakes

Iffraaj – 2006 Lennox Stakes

Iffraaj - 2006

The seven-furlong Group 2 Lennox Stakes attracted a quality line-up but preference for Iffraaj was evident in the betting market on day one of the flagship ‘Glorious Goodwood’ meeting. The five-year-old was a shade unlucky not to win the July Cup at Newmarket earlier on in his campaign which only heightened Frankie Dettori’s hunger for success on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt.

Travelling strongly from the off, he was marginally caught flat-footed at a crucial point of the race. However, soon galvanised by a flying Frankie Dettori he finished with a flourish to score for the all-conquering operation of Godolphin for which Frankie was employed as retained jockey at the time.

In producing a devastating performance to eclipse his nine rivals and win by four lengths, it provided one of the widest margin victories in the race - a display of unmistakable class.

  • Goodwood Racecourse

  • Qatar Goodwood Festival

  • goodwood estate