Frankie Dettori Interview - September Horse Racing News & Updates

Speaking to Stake, legendary jockey Frankie Dettori spoke about the St Leger Festival, why he won’t be riding in the Leger Legends, as well as big upcoming international meetings as one of the best to do it on the global stage in Flat racing. In the latest of his monthly blogs, Dettori also discussed the 30th anniversary of the Magnificent Seven, which propelled him to stardom, Bow Echo’s retirement and why he wants to see Constitution Hill’s Flat runs but reveals his concerns.

Let’s start with the announcement that you won’t be riding in the Legends race at Doncaster in aid of the IJF next week because of your injuries following your car crash. That must be a real disappointment?

It's a shame that I'm not able to do the Legends race because of my car accident, but I will be there to support the Injured Jockeys Fund. It's a charity close to my heart and helps all the jockeys that have been injured in the past. So, I will be there to support and yeah, hopefully if I'm better, I'm going to try to do it next year. I am just nowhere near fit enough. I broke my ribs and I am still very sore everywhere. I'll be honest with you, when you fall, you fall. It doesn't matter if over the jumps or on the Flat. Everybody asks me after the car crash: "What's it like? Is it more painful falling off the horse?" Like I said, it's the same! Once you break bones, you know, my ribs broke. It's the same. It's the same pain, the same recovery. But hats off to the guys, you know, I've done it for so many years and they're still doing it. It is a very rewarding, exciting sport, but also very dangerous.

So, we don't rule out maybe seeing you next year for a great cause?

Listen, a year is a long time in everyone's life, so we'll see, I'm sure. Because they asked me this year, I'm sure they're going to ask me again next year, and we'll see where we are at.

It’s the 30th anniversary of the Magnificent Seven at Ascot. Looking back, how did that change your life and shape who you are today?

Things definitely changed! I was quite an already established jockey by then. I had been champion jockey a couple of times, and I was doing good, but you know, the 20th of September really took me to another level. While I was doing it, I didn't realise the impact it would have on me, to the industry. It just catapulted me to another level. Suddenly, I wasn't just known in the racing world, I was known outside the racing world. So, for sure it changed my life.

You've had some remarkable highs in your career. Where does that rank? Going through the card at one meeting, is it number one?

Yes without doubt number one. Listen, I've got a statue, you know, to show the magnitude of the achievement, and I'm still alive! So absolutely, by far number one, better than any Derbys, or Arcs, or Breeders' Cups. You think, what would be the perfect day as a professional jockey? To win every race, and that was that.

You must have had the whole world congratulating you. Any big names coming in to say, "Well done, Frankie"?

I'll be honest with you, I was in a storm of publicity and messages. You know, it was just the very next day, because it was Ascot again, it was a Sunday morning, and I used to get my paper delivered to my front door. I opened the door, and I was in my underpants and T-shirt, and it was two TV stations, a few paparazzi journalists, and wow, I grabbed the papers and I closed the door and hit the panic button! I rang my agent and said, "Listen, wow, what's going on here?" And then yeah, really, that's where, you know, I grabbed it with two hands, I made the most of it. Morning TV, chat shows, I presented Top of the Pops, you know. Every interview in every newspaper. So I was, of course, promoting myself, but I was actually promoting racing because, you know, you have got to grab those opportunities when they do come to promote the sport. So yes, I was running around like a lunatic trying to please everyone, but for a good cause anyway.

Does a TV career still appeal to you? Because obviously you were so popular in many different things. Is there something you'd like to do in the TV world?

Listen, of course being a pundit in my sport is the obvious next step. I've only been retired for six months now, so I'm still trying to find my feet, so on and so forth. And so it's something that I would like to dabble in, in the future.

You've had six months out now. Do you miss it at all, or is it out of your system?

I don't miss it a bit. I've been racing a lot, and I've been to all the big races, I went to Saratoga, I went to Deauville, I went to York; I'm thinking to myself, ‘wow, you have to be so mentally focused, so physically fit because it is so demanding.‘And I don't feel that I can reach those levels again. So, it makes it easier for me to say that I don't miss it because of that reason. When I look at the guys I think, my God, how did I do that for 39 years? I'm already too far behind. So, I don't miss it for that reason, because I really enjoy watching it. People don't understand how, at the levels I was doing it and the top level in every sport, you just have to be so on point in every aspect. And I felt, of course, towards the end I already felt that I was losing a little bit, but now that I really stopped and I watched, I realise there’s such a gap between being there and where I am now.

Talking of mental focus, what's the difference in the approach for a tight American turf course compared to a bigger, open track in Europe like Longchamp or Epsom? How did you prepare?

The focus, you know, is the same, but I guess in America it's more short and fast and blasted. Where ours is longer, but it's still intense. You still have to focus, you still have to do your home work, you still have to be fit. So, there are lots of similarities, obviously, but perhaps in America there's less traveling and the races are shorter and faster. But it demands mentally and physically the same amount of pressure, or fitness, or everything else. It doesn't matter if the race is two miles or five furlongs, you still demand to be extremely fit, physically and mentally.

Do you have a preference between Europe or America, or one particular track that stands out? Is it Ascot?

Of course, Ascot, I've said a million times, Ascot, and Santa Anita. They're my top two. I enjoy traveling, I enjoy riding in other countries, where there are different styles. It kept my motivation to challenge myself. I found, you know, if I stayed in the same place I would become a bit, I would say, passive. I didn’t like routine. When you change tracks you change horses, you change riders. The tracks more or less, I would say 95 percent, are very similar. But when you go to other jurisdictions or tracks, you ride with different people. So even if it looks the same, it's not the same. So I enjoyed that bit. I rode multiple races in the USA, it's just everybody's different. That's what made me tick, going searching for different adventures.

What's the number one piece of advice you'd give to a young apprentice who's trying to make their mark in such a competitive industry?

Really the most important thing is you have got to love the horse. Without the horse you have got nothing. So, you must start with the love for the horse. Styles are personal because everybody is in a different shape. I mean, I'm quite short, but I have got long arms and short legs. Everybody is different; a lot of jockeys now are taller. You have to find your own style. Technique you can learn by watching videos, you know, but the fundamental thing, if you haven't got a love for the horse then you won’t get anywhere. That's what I try to drum into young people, that technique and all that is all black and white. You have to really love the horse and understand him. Luca (Cumani), my first boss, said to me, ‘you have got to find the key to every horse. ’Every horse is different. Everybody thinks every horse is the same. It's not. Everybody's dog is different. Everybody's cat is different. If you want to be a top-class professional jockey, you should concentrate 80 percent on that focus, then the style is 10 percent, and the tactical you can learn is another 10 percent. Everybody thinks that by watching a race on an iPad, it's easily done. Well of course that helps, but if you don't really know or have a bond with the horse yourself, then you're going nowhere.

Talking of bonds with horses, if you could swing your leg over one great champion one more time for one more race, who would it be?

Well, Enable was my favourite, you know, and I loved her so much. Stradivarius was great, Dubai Millennium was probably the best. But to think outside the box, I would have loved to ride Frankel. I mean, I was second to him so many times! He was the best horse I've been in with and the best horse I've ever seen, bar none. That's my opinion. And yeah, if I had to have a magic wand to say which horse would you like to ride, Frankel would be my first choice.

Last time we spoke you had some very kind words about Billy Loughnane. He's obviously had the big blow of Bow Echo's retirement. Will that affect him, do you think, or is it just part and parcel of a career that you have highs, and you have lows?

I'll be honest with you, Billy's having a remarkable season. To have a horse like that land on his lap at that young stage of his life is great fortune. It was amazing to win the Guineas. I was actually there at Goodwood for the Sussex Stakes and you know, I clapped. I mean I'm a racing fan and saw something unbelievable that day. What he did that day was incredible. I'm a big fan of great racing and that was to me the race of the season so far. It's a shame that he has an injury, that we could not see him perhaps in a Breeders' Cup or something like that. To have a horse like that so young in your life is terrific and he made the most of it. And he's got plenty of years left! Of course it's very upsetting to lose a great horse. When I lost the Dubai Millennium, of course I was upset. When you have such a champion that gets cheated out of a long career, I feel sorry for everybody connected.

Talking of his connections, George Boughey was his trainer.How impressed have you been by him?

I have known George for a long time. He was assistant to Hugo Palmer. So, we had a lot of time together with Galileo Gold when I won the Guineas. He's done unbelievably well as a trainer.I came in an era where there was Henry Cecil, Michael Stoute, Luca Cumani in Newmarket and Barry Hills and other people in Lambourn. Now the new faces are arriving. You have got Thady (Gosden) coming along, and then you have George Boughey, George Scott, Tom Clover, so many young ones that have come through. It's a kind of a changing of the guard. That's the way evolution goes, same with jockeys now, it's a new brigade of jockeys. It's nice to see things have changed with the TV media and social media. Young trainers have access to all of those things that my generation didn't have to worry about. Racing is going to another level in every way. I wish all the young trainers well, if I missed someone out, including Ed Crisford, and Jack Channon and all the young trainers that are around, I’m sorry but I wish you all the best.

One guy who's been around for a few years is Andrew Balding. What a season he's having. Everything he touches turns to gold this year.

His Dad Ian and mum Emma set up the foundation of Kingsclere and again he has taken it up to another level and with new owners and expanded with more boxes, and amazing gallops. The key about Andrew is he's very consistent. He consistently has success and an amazing season, an amazing King George. It's great to see that we have a little bit of a battle for the championship this year with Aidan (O’Brien) and Andrew, they look like they've pulled clear of the rest. I'm sure everybody's going to throw everything at it till the end.

Who would your money be on? Andrew or Aidan?

There are so many big races to come, obviously we got the St Leger coming up. And then Champions’ Weekend which is a massive prize money day, so it could go either way.

One of Andrew's stars is Kalpana. What's next for her Kalpana, do you think? Where would you send her?

For sure it has got to be the Arc. She likes soft ground. It's very obvious to me that she's a filly that has tremendous cruising speed. When she passes the last horse, she kind of pulls herself up a bit. She's super talented. She'd be one of the main protagonists in the Arc, that's my opinion.

Do you think in time she can match or enjoy similar success to Enable? Is she good enough, or does she have the potential?

She's definitely good enough, but she hasn't done it yet. Enable set pretty high standards! She won two Arcs and three King Georges. And a Breeders' Cup, so you know, let's not put too much pressure on Kalpana! She's won a King George, and she can win an Arc, which would be great too.

Talking of young trainers, Joseph O'Brien is having the season of his life. He's only 33, he's been training 10 years, and everything he's touched this year has turned to gold it seems. he's been training 10 years, and everything he's touched this year has turned to gold it seems.

I know Joseph and I used to ride for him. He is a tremendous sportsman. Unfortunately, he couldn't carry on riding, he was too big and he really, really tried hard with his weight. But what a great horseman. I raced with him many times. He is a lovely kind person and that reflects on his Training. And also to have somebody like Dylan (Browne McMionagle) on board is brilliant. I wish him all the best after his accident. What a tremendous combination he and Joseph make. They're both young, they're both that good, they have many, many years together to carry on this relationship. In the last few years when I was with John Gosden, we had this chemistry together, and it seems like Joseph and Dylan have this kind of chemistry. Like I said to everyone, John trained horses to suit my riding and I rode horses to suit his training. And I would say I can see exactly the same thing with Joseph and Dylan.

It must be tough to be a dual trainer and have high standards in both flat and National Hunt codes. How does he do it?!

Listen, I don't know how he does it! I'm only watching the results on the Flat, you know, he's already won a Melbourne Cup. He's won it twice. He's got an amazing career ahead.

What can we expect from Benvenuto Cellini in the Breeders' Cup after the fiasco of the Derby? Is the Arc a safer bet?

He can do both. He can do the Arc and the Breeders' Cup. There's enough time. It depends on Aidan and what he's going to aim for. It's up to him, but he's a good horse.

The St Leger is around the corner. It used to be the last leg of the Triple Crown, which Nijinsky last won in 1970. Can that ever be repeated, do you think, or has the demand of racing changed so much now you're never going to get a horse that can do it?

Actually, Oh So Sharp did it, but it was a filly! It was amazing sportsmanship by Coolmore to try with Camelot back in 2012. He won the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby but just got beaten in the St Leger. With the prize money nowadays of the Arc it means good horses sometimes will skip the Leger and be lured to go to the Arc. Horses have tried it (The Triple Crown) before, but it's a tough task. But as a racing person like me, who was born in racing with my parents, I'm a traditionalist and I'm a big supporter of the StLeger. The reason those Classics were invented is to test the thoroughbred in every way. So obviously a mile in the Guineas, a mile and a half in the Derby, and then to test him to go a mile and six and a bit. It’s just the ultimate test of a thoroughbred. Maybe sometimes now people in racing don't understand that's how racing really started from the beginning. So I'm a big fan of the Leger.

You won it six times. Did you have a favourite of those six?

I won it six times for five different trainers. Listen, they were all good, you know. You win a race and they give you a Cup. But to have the famous St Leger silks is something else. It's a bit like when the cricketers get one of those caps! They're all different. Some were hard work, some were explosive, you know. But all had to be good.

What does it take to win a Leger?

Of course you’ve got to have ability first. Because they still have to run the distance, you’ve got to have the ability to win it, but also they have to be able at some stage to relax. Because you know you see a lot of times that a lot of horses don't get to the end because they're spending too much energy.

Constitution Hill is due to run on Saturday in the September Stakes at Kempton. Do you think that's the right option, or would the Irish St Leger be better as the ground softens?

Listen, I'm not Nicky Henderson, I'll be honest with you, I don't have an opinion on it. What he's done on the flat so far has been great, but if he runs on Saturday that's a proper test. That's a Group Three, isn't it? I don't know what they're looking at going forward. Either or, I'm a fan and I want to see it, to see what happens. It brings something different for fans.

What about the Melbourne Cup? The O'Briens have got 16 of the 23 international entries so far.

I'll be honest with you, the lineup really starts to shape around September. Before that we get a Caulfield Cup and other races. So, we get to see how the race will shape. But of course, I'm a Stake ambassador and I would love to be there in Melbourne for the race. Last year I wasn't organised enough, I didn't get a visa in time, so I missed the race, but I’d love to be there this

year.

It really captures the imagination, the way the Aussies market the racing and the Melbourne Cup. It's got this prestige and aura about it.

Me and Mick Kinane, we were pioneers, we were the first ones to go from Europe. He won on Vintage Crop, I rode Drum Taps, Lord Huntingdon and Dermot Weld were the trainers. And Vintage Crop won. It kind of gave the belief to people that it was possible to do. And then you know, many horses have been there and also now the Japanese get involved as well. So yeah, it's got every flavour I would say. A bit of everything!

Is there a horse that you think is really suited to Melbourne this year?

I'll be honest with you, I don't; it's way too early to say. We'll have to see what happens after those trials.

Looking back at the Flat season, who's been your star of the year and why?

Well, of course, Bow Echo for sure. A tremendously explosive win in the Guineas. The Sussex Stakes to me was the race of the year. Very thrilling. So he will be my number one.

And Amo Racing, are you settling into your role now? Do you get a better understanding of what your role is for them?

I'm still new. Getting to know trainers, getting to know the names of the horses. I'm just slowly going around and trying to take it all in. It's all new to me and I'm enjoying it, going forward and meeting all these new trainers.

Have they got any particular targets this autumn? What are their plans?

Well, we try to win as many races as we can! We get horses in America as well, in Ireland, in England. It's nice to get to know the horses and the trainers and where they're aiming at. I don't interfere too much with the trainers on what they have to do because really, they are responsible for the horses every day and they know more than me.

Finally, how pleased are you that racing is becoming so much more international now? Horses going here, there, and everywhere.

It is good. You know, obviously the Japanese are not afraid of traveling. You know, they got a great champion like Forever Young and he's blessed; that horse has been around the world twice. What a super tough horse he is. It's nice, sometimes it's quite demanding on the horses to do that, but it's nice to see. When they do come over, you have got to respect everyone from every nation.

Have you got a tip for the St Leger?

I'm going to be boring: Christmas Day. I think the Derby winner is a good stayer. He came there and ran a superb race at York and I think the distance is not a problem. If it rains it's not a problem, and he's going to be a very tough horse to get past.

If we were looking at the Frankie end-of-season awards, who would be your 2026 trainer in England?

George did really well with Bow Echo, but if you think from the beginning to three-quarters through, my vote will be those two. They've been remarkable.

And the jockey of the year?

Well at the moment, Billy. Billy is the guy. He's had a great season, he's leading the championship, he's won a Classic, he's won the Sussex. He's a young, young man. Obviously, you know, Ryan Moore is Ryan Moore, he's done well, James Doyle is having a good year, William Buick. All the obvious ones are there. But I would say Billy. Throughout the season he's been a revelation and I don't think he's made that many mistakes.

And who's your Arc winner?

Kalpana! You have put me on the spot now. But then we'll see what happens in the next few weeks.