The Frankie Dettori retirement plans have taken a U-turn with the popular Italian jockey announcing today he’s going to CARRY ON RIDING indefinitely – with a full-time career in America, and a tilt at winning the Kentucky Derby, the objective.
Frankie Dettori Retirement U-Turn As Career In America Now Planned
52 year-old jockey Frankie Dettori has been riding this season in what was meant to be his ‘farewell tour’ after announcing at the end of last year that the 2023 campaign would be his last in the saddle.
It was rumoured the Melbourne Cup fixture in Australia on November 7th was going to be Dettori’s final meeting – a race he’s contested 17 times but never won.
However, after an excellent season that has included big wins in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Epsom Oaks and a nineth Ascot Gold Cup on the Wathnan Racing-owned Courage Mon Ami (watch below) – the Dettori retirement plans have been put on hold, with the plan to ride full-time in the US and based in California.
Oh, I have some news… 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/p3F0Np4nhZ
— Frankie Dettori (@FrankieDettori) October 12, 2023
Frankie Goes To Hollywood With Kentucky Derby In Sights
Dettori is expected to be on show at this year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita (3-4 Nov) in America and it’s in the US that Frankie is planning his retirement U-turn.
Frankie Dettori is saying he’s still going to wave goodbye to British racing at the Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot next weekend (Sat 21st Oct), but there is every chance the pocket Italian will be tempted back for the big European races and his beloved Royal Ascot in 2024.
The next chapter will be a stint riding full-time in America, with Frankie’s big goal to try and win the Kentucky Derby – the first leg of the US Triple Crown each season – and a race Dettori is yet to add to his CV.
In 2024, the Kentucky Derby, which is always staged at Churchill Downs racecourse, will be on ‘Star Wars Day’ – Saturday May 4th, so will we see some ‘Frankie force’?
Frankie told the Racing Post
“I didn’t expect this year to be so successful. I feel I like I still have to get it all out of my system, so the obvious choice for me is to move full-time to America because I had such a good time there over the winter. I’m going to be based at Santa Anita but I’ll also do a bit of stuff on the international scene in Dubai and Saudi Arabia when available.”
“We have been working on this for the last few weeks but I wanted to dot all the Is and cross all the Ts before saying anything. We’ve now sorted things out at home. The kids are settled, our house has been rented and I’ve got myself a visa, which was the big concern. It was a long process to get that but we’ve got it now. We are good to go.”
“>Dettori added
“I started thinking about this after York,” he said. “When I set out my stall to retire, I didn’t expect to have one of my best years for a long time, probably the best I’ve had since 2019. I thought my rides would fizzle out and that I would slowly head towards the sunset. Instead, I’ve been in demand and that has triggered this decision. As a result of the success I’ve had this year, I now feel that I’m not ready to stop yet.
“I’m still looking forward to saying my last goodbyes at Ascot on Champions Day but then we’ll move to southern California just before Christmas for our new future. It’s all about being a freelance in the States but I hope to be riding for everyone, just like I did when I went out there at the end of last year.”
No New Dettori Retirement Date Given
The Dettori retirement change of plan also doesn’t have any fixed time scale, with Frankie highlighting he’s not going to pin a future date and could still be in the saddle for the next three years – which would take him up to his 55th birthday.
Maybe a lot will depend if Frankie can win the Kentucky Derby, but it’s one of the most competitive US horse races on their calendar and, therefore, winning ‘The Run For The Roses’ is easier said than done.
“It could be three months. It could be three years. I don’t know. It depends how it goes. Dettori told the Racing Post“
The good news for Frankie is legendary jockey Lester Piggott rode until he was aged 59.
Big UK Races Frankie Dettori Has Won This Season (2023)
See below some of the big UK races Frankie Dettori has won this season, which may have also been reasons for his retirement re-think.
- 2000 Guineas: Chaldean
- Epsom Oaks: Soul Sister
- Ascot Gold Cup: Courage Mon Ami
- York Ebor: Absurde
WATCH: Frankie Dettori Winning The 2023 Ascot Gold Cup On Courage Mon Ami
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