Regardless of the sport, when a legend retires from the active competition, there is a risk of him falling into obscurity. One of those who didn't allow this to happen was Frankie Dettori. The Italian jockey has had a career that spanned for 35 years, and his name still means something in the world of horse racing. Dettori has remained close to the sport that made him famous, and has used his good name to attract sponsorship deals even long after his retirement.
One of the biggest deals of his career was signed once everything was said and done when it comes to horse racing. Nowadays, Dettori serves as a horse racing pundit and commentator, while also doing work as a brand ambassador for online casino and sports betting outlet Stake. This company is one of the leaders in the online gambling industry having the names of Dettori, Drake, Alex Pereira, Davido, Merab Dvalishvili, Sergio Aguero, Patrice Evra and many others representing it.
The majority of these names talk to their sponsor from time to time in a string of exclusive interviews. Here are the most interesting bits from the Frankie Dettori exclusive interview with Stake.
Has Frankie Dettori Ever Rode Injured?
In the eve of Ryan Moore injury and the fact that he's been deemed medically incapable of riding no more this season, the question of whether Frankie ever rode injured. Of course, the answer was yes, as Dettori did appear at Prix De Diane with an injured hand and even managed to finish the race at position number three. When the race was done he wasn't even able to tie his shoelaces, telling himself: " I am in trouble here." Once the doctors got the idea of the extent of his injury he was immediately ruled out of competing at the Royal Ascot. The injury was not light as Dettori has had a hairline fracture in his shoulder, right between all the muscles and tendons. The only positive was that he didn't require surgery at the time. During the recuperation time, the biggest downside was the fact that the Italian jockey has missed o four Ascot winners including Big Orange, Stradavarius, and Coronet.
Was That the Most Serious Injury Frankie Rode With?
While Dettori found no fun in riding with a shoulder injury, for him the toughest pain to bear while horse racing had a thing or two to do with rib cage injury which was, in his words, awful. Remembering his injury, Frankie understands part of the pain Moore is going through. Dettori still remembers when Ryan managed to win King George and the Sussex riding with an injured hip. This injury required screws in his bones later on. Because of this, Dettori thinks that Moore hadn't had second thoughts about riding injured once again. Talking about him, the former Italian superstar added: " He must have an incredible pain threshold, he’s super tough." While not usually a sport marred with injuries, this was a tough week for jockey as both Jim Crowley and Trevor Whelan needed prolonged periods of time off.
The Correlation Between Hard Ground in Flat Racing, Speed & Falls Through Dettori's Lenses
For jockeys falling is natural, claims Dettori despite the fact that you never know when it's coming. Talking about times when it happens Dettori said: " When you have a fall, you just hope you walk out of it with as little injury as possible but it is the nature of the sport." It is expected that you will have a few falls, especially if one has a long career, states Frankie. For the Italian jockey it is all part of the sport, and injuries are not something that a jockey should think about before a race, but just race, try to avoid the worst case scenario and embrace it if it happens. " You can crash your car at any point, there is danger everywhere. We do this because we love it and the excitement just overrides all the other risks." concludes Dettori.
Talking About Ryan Moore, is he the World’s Best?
There's no doubt in Frankie Dettori's mind that Ryan Moore is at the top of the pecking order when it comes to jockeys of today. When one rides with extreme confidence, and has the backing of the horse below him, he's the best. As far as Moore goes, his wins at Prix du Jockey Club in France, and the Eclipse have cemented his present legacy for Dettori. Talking about the confidence Ryan has and the calibre of his on track executions, Dettori said: " At the moment he is one of the best, if not, the best in the world."
The two jockeys have developed a bond, considering that they've been travelling the world together for the last fifteen years. Of course, their friendship has risen due to the fact that both have been at the top of their game when it comes to horse racing for a long time now, but also that Dettori enjoys Moore's sense of humour. Also, both men are fans of football, and support the London outlet, Arsenal. After Moore's injury, Frankie has been on line with Ryan, saying: " I have spoken to him since he is on the mend. It is extremely boring staying at home but I know his four kids will be keeping busy, but he wants to be out there and riding."
Will Aidan O'Brien Step in For Injured Moore?
There's an old saying that one man's misfortune is the other man's luck, and that might be the case for O'Brien and Moore. Dettori has opened up on the possibility of O'Brien stepping up for Moore, and says that the two have had an exchange: " I’ll be honest, cheekily I texted him saying don’t forget me at Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup, he said thank you, he didn’t say yes!" Considering that there is enough time for Moore to get better before the Del Mar race, Dettori has remained open to both options.
Dettori's Nashville Derby Win
It was one of the top moments of Frankie's career that came out of nowhere. It was Tim Gredley who invited Dettori to race for him, after the two spent 18 years as neighbours. Tim has reached out to Dettori to take the reins of his horse for a few races, and with the offer having sentimental value Frankie accepted. Talking about how it went, Dettori recollects: " I was very happy to take it. The horse had excellent form, too. The only thing that worried me was that he’d been racing nonstop since the spring, in the Craven, the Guineas, the Dante and at Ascot, yet he never missed a beat."
Frankie Dettori knows a thing or two about horses after being in the sport for more than 35 years, and at first he was not impressed with his horse, describing it as not an imposing animal, a feminine one, light, but one that stays and travels really well. This is a good time to note that if you plan to bet on horse racing to never underestimate an old jockey regardless of his horse appearance.
When talking about the instant fit between him and the horse, and everything that motivated him to do well in the Nashville Derby Frankie added: "For a horse that has run so many times, he still had plenty of energy left and held the lead. It was very emotional, notably as myself and Tim both had recently lost our friend Duncan, just a few weeks before the race. When he did pass away, I had thoughts in my mind that I didn’t want to carry on riding, I was devastated. If it wasn’t for him and his strength then I would not have carried on. It was a difficult experience but it was also a big, big moment for us."
The Next Day Four-Timer
For Dettori who was not racing as much as in his heyday, seeing his card and a schedule for nine races, all of which were mix and match with different trainers was overwhelming. Yet, all of his associates have had utmost confidence in Dettori and it rubbed him the right way. Remembering how it all went, Frankie said: " I actually rode extremely well that day, most of them I won in a photograph. It was a really good day."
After 35 years in horse racing, the Italian jockey has learned a thing or two about tracks he rides his horses on. In his words, Nashville is one of the most European American tracks. It is a track that requires a lot of thinking, and it was the right challenge for Dettori at that time, and a moment he thoroughly enjoyed.
How Does This Day Rank in Your US Career So Far?
Moving to America and continuing racing was not an easy thing to do for Dettori. Yet, he remains honest about it. Frankie admits he was the one looking for racing gigs when he went down to Saratoga. Yet, his expectations were low after he only managed to win two out of 18 races he started. The long summer has had a triumphal ending as Dettori has managed to rake up a few more wins, which was what he wanted after a few months of suffering. Talking about how a change of scenery has aided him, Dettori concluded: "It would have been much more difficult to secure them if I had stayed in California."
And How Has It Helped Your Profile?
The Stake.com ambassador remains adamant that these wins have been important. His profile was elevated, and at a new track he is not only a new face but a popular one, which is evidenced by his eight races on Monday, and seven on Wednesday. For future plans, Dettori has had this to say: " We still have one more meeting left and it would be nice to finish it as leading rider, but we will see what happens."
James Owen-A British Trainer Winning in America
While Italian, Dettori has spent the majority of his career racing from England. Thus, he remains qualified to talk about the success British trainers have overseas. He sees the fact that the majority of US aces are on turf as one of the biggest advantages for Brits. So far, the likes of James Owen and Tim Gredley have had their fair share of success against the likes of Coolmore, Juddmonte, and Godolphin. Having British trainers working overseas is no surprise when you take a look at the racing calendar and the prize money, where you can win more with lesser competition. As far as Owen goes, Dettori said the following about him: " Of course, he still has to be a good trainer with a horse that travels well and performs at his best once he gets here. It was a really good effort from James and his team. To bring a horse over after a full campaign in Europe and still have him run like that is impressive."
Frankie says that he was more than happy to celebrate Owen's wins, but not in person, as he had to focus on his races, adding: "Back in the day, I would have gone in a heartbeat, but I don’t enjoy riding with a hangover anymore."
What Have You Made of Arsenal’s Start to the Premier League Season?
As an avid fan of football, and a Gunner at heart, Dettori has had a few things to say about Arsenal's start to the year, and their chances to win the much awaited Premier League title. Talking about the early injuries, struggles and a loss to Liverpool, Dettori said: "Not bad. I watched the Liverpool game and it was very cagey, it took a great goal to break it open. We’ve got a big squad, though a couple of injuries haven’t helped, but we’re looking OK. We’ll be in a good place." Dettori's love for Arsenal was ignited back in the day when he was a young jockey, and players such as David O’Leary and Paul Merson were into horse racing, so the two groups of athletes were spending some time together.More on Frankie Dettori current state of affairs you can read in his exclusive Stake interview.
