Frankie Dettori | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dettori, O’Brien Mourn Loss Of Top Ballydolye Filly Snowfall

Classic-winning filly Snowfall had to be euthanized after sustaining a pelvic injury in her stall, reports the Racing Post. Bred by the Coolmore partners, the 4-year-old daughter of the late Deep Impact was foaled out of a full sister to 2016 Arc de Triomphe winner Found.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien mourned the loss, telling racingpost.com: “We did everything we could for her but it wasn't to be. She is a massive loss to everyone here, from a racing and breeding perspective – she was such a high-class mare.”

A five-time winner from 14 starts, Snowfall came to prominence in 2021 with a 16-length victory in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks, the largest margin of victory in the race's history. She would go on to win the G1 Irish Oaks by 8 1/2 lengths and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks, her first try against older fillies and mares, by four lengths.

“I've ridden 21 British Classic winners in my life but I have never ridden an easier one than her in the Oaks,” Frankie Dettori told racingpost.com. “It was just unbelievable. I had the race won at Tattenham Corner. She was at her peak and just brilliant. She went through the field like a hot knife through butter.

“In this day and age, I don't think we will see a performance like that again. I don't expect to ever win another Classic like that in my life.”

Snowfall's dam, Best In The World, has also foaled a 2019 colt by Deep Impact named Newfoundland, who has yet to start, and an as-yet unnamed 2-year-old colt by Dubawi.

Dettori To Ride In Race Honouring Khalid Abdullah

Frankie Dettori will on Saturday ride in a race in Saudi Arabia named in honour of Prince Khalid Abdullah, the founder of the Juddmonte breeding and racing empire who died last Jan. 12.

Dettori rode Khalid Abdullah's great homebred mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in all bar two of her 19 races for trainer John Gosden, for two wins in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, three wins in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., victories in the Epsom, Irish and Yorkshire Oaks', G1 Coral-Eclipse and GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

“Prince Khalid did amazing things for the sport of horse racing and it's a pleasure to ride in the race named in his honour,” said Dettori. “He will never be forgotten, and I'll be forever grateful for all the opportunities I was given to ride for him, not least Enable who gave us all such incredible memories.”

“I've ridden in Saudi for years and the racing calendar out there is very strong now,” Dettori added. “Of course, there is the Saudi Cup meeting next month, but there are more good races with top prize money throughout the winter that make it an attractive option for the European jockeys. The dirt course is top-class, and the turf track is beautiful. It's fresh every year, you really can't fault it.

Dettori will ride the former Andrew Balding-trained Recovery Run (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won an Ascot handicap by four lengths last summer and is now trained by Allan Smith for Al Adiyat Racing.

“The Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Cup on Saturday looks an interesting race, with plenty of familiar names in there like My Frankel and Fabilis,” said Dettori. “I remember I rode Crossed Baton to win the Derby Trial at Epsom a few years back and he only left John [Gosden]'s last year, so he's interesting too. As for my horse, Recovery Run, he won his last start by 21 lengths, so I'd like to think he's got a good chance.”

Silvestre de Sousa will partner the former Khalid Abdullah runner Fabilis in the Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Cup, and he said, “It's a real honour to have been asked and I am looking forward to spending time out there. The racing is good quality and the people are so welcoming.”

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‘He Will Never Be Forgotten’: Frankie Dettori Set To Ride In Saturday’s Inaugural Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Cup

Top international jockey Frankie Dettori's first ride of 2022 will carry extra significance, as he competes in the inaugural Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Cup at Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday, Jan. 8, run in honor of the owner-breeder who died almost 12 months ago.

Dettori, well-known for his partnership with the Abdullah-owned superstar mare Enable, will ride Recovery Run, formerly trained by Andrew Balding, in Saturday's 2100-meter (about 1 5/16 miles) contest run on turf, which carries a pot of SAR 1m (approx. $266,000).

The meeting marks the second use of the turf track at King Abdulaziz this season as preparations continue for next month's Saudi Cup meeting on Feb. 25 and 26, and is also the first of six races open to Saudi's GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) neighbors. Dettori's mount, Recovery Run, is representing Bahrain-based trainer Allan Smith, who saddles two in the field.

The final race open to GCC countries is The Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques Cup (Domestic Group 1) on Jan. 29, where the winner will gain an automatic entry into the Group 1 Saudi Cup, the world's most valuable horse race.

Dettori, said: “Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah did amazing things for the sport of horse racing and it's a pleasure to ride in the race named in his honor. He will never be forgotten, and I'll be forever grateful for all the opportunities I was given to ride for him, not least Enable who gave us all such incredible memories.

“I've ridden in Saudi for years and the racing calendar out there is very strong now. Of course, there is The Saudi Cup meeting next month, but there are more good races with top prize money throughout the winter that make it an attractive option for the European jockeys. The dirt course is top class, and the turf track is beautiful. It's fresh every year, you really can't fault it.

“The Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Cup on Saturday looks an interesting race, with plenty of familiar names in there like My Frankel and Fabilis. I remember I rode Crossed Baton to win the Derby Trial at Epsom a few years back and he only left John's [Gosden] last year, so he's interesting too. As for my horse, Recovery Run, he won his last start by 21 lengths, so I'd like to think he's got a good chance!”

Salem Binmahfooz, Director of Racing at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “It is fitting for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia to honor the memory of Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. This race is our contribution to continuing the tremendous global legacy left by Prince Khalid and it was considered highly appropriate by both his family and the JCSA that it should be held on our turf track and over the 2,100m distance at which some of his most famous horses excelled.

“We were very pleased to work with the family of Prince Khalid in staging this race and welcome all who were moved by the many unforgettable on course moments that Prince Khalid's racing operation has contributed to this sport over the years.”

In other news, Silvestre de Sousa has not only bagged himself a ride in Saturday's big race but is set to ride in Saudi throughout the winter having re-established an association with the country's leading owner, Prince Faisal.

On Saturday, the UK-based Brazilian will get the leg up on Fabilis, a 95-rated three-time winner for Ralph Beckett when racing in the famous pink and green silks of Abdullah's Juddmonte operation.

De Sousa said: “I'm flying out to Saudi on Thursday where I will mainly be riding for Prince Faisal Bin Khaled Bin Abdulaziz and his family over the next few months. It's a real honor to have been asked and I am looking forward to spending time out there. The racing is good quality and the people are so welcoming.”

The post ‘He Will Never Be Forgotten’: Frankie Dettori Set To Ride In Saturday’s Inaugural Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘I Was Never Good Enough For Him’: Frankie Dettori Reflects On New Documentary

Jockey Frankie Dettori is the subject of a new documentary film, Dettori, which focuses on both his racing career and his personal life, including a complicated relationship with his father, Gianfranco.

In the film, according to The Times, Dettori's father explains that he doubted his son possessed the grit and determination to come back to race-riding after a plane crash in 2000 that killed the pilot, and nearly killed the jockey.

“My dad felt that all his life about me,” Dettori told The Times. “Even at the beginning he felt I was never good enough for him. I didn't speak to him for three years and only because of the plane crash did I talk to him.”

The documentary is available on Blu-ray, DVD and download-to-own from Nov. 15.