Frankie Dettori reveals he is ‘happy and sad’ after breaking Royal Ascot 2023 duck

Frankie Dettori, how we’ll miss him when he’s gone. In the daily attritional battle between punters and bookies, it was the latter who were all smiles at Royal Ascot, as a succession of favourites faltered and long-priced rivals triumphed, ripped up betting slips raining down like confetti.

Sid Hopper, Ron Christie and Dave Spice – the bookies with the premier pitches in the Royal Enclosure – were stuffing readies into their top hats and not containing their glee. Only two favourites placed in the opening five races, all claimed by double digit winners that would have returned you a handsome £550,000 for a £1 accumulator.

Tears were being cried into the Bollinger, other brands available, when Dettori seized his moment late in the day. Timing, as the diminutive 53-year-old Italian knows, is everything.

In his final Royal Ascot before retiring later this year, racing’s greatest showman was, according to his children, ‘very grumpy’ after three second places on Tuesday, a mood not improved by a nine-day ban for careless riding he will serve next month. But normal service was resumed as favourite Gregory, the progeny of Dettori’s much-loved Derby winner Golden Horn, scorched to victory in the Queen’s Vase.

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He’d set a target of reaching 80 career winners at the meeting he has graced for 34 years before the start of the week – he needs just two more to deliver on that ambition. No-one was getting rich on Gregory’s even money price but there was a mighty cheer of relief as he crossed the line and just a little grimace from the oddsmakers, who still ended the day well in credit on their ledgers, further aided by a 20/1 winner in the not so lucky last.

“I thought this winner was never going to come, especially after the three seconds but I knew this was a great chance,” admitted Dettori. “It was amazing the reception I got because it is my last season. I couldn’t be happier but I’m also happy and sad. I’ve got three more days to enjoy this but it feels much better to have that win 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. 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.”