Top international jockey Frankie Dettori spoke with Barry Irwin for the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary this week, reflecting on his career and some of its most-memorable moments.
One story fans may not have heard was that of a riding lesson with Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero at Belmont Park in 1990.
“In 1990 I came to New York to ride in the Breeders' Cup and Angel took me on the side for a week, he took me to his place, he showed me how to ride my toes in the irons because I used to ride with the whole foot in,” Dettori said. “He put me on the mechanical horse – and, yeah, he gave me a free lesson! Now, I am forever grateful for it, because he is such a nice man and what a good teacher. I love the way he used to ride. I mean, I used to be obsessed by it. That's why I stole his flying dismount.”
(Racing fans/historians may find it interesting that Cordero was not the first jockey to perform the flying dismount. It was originally the signature move of Canadian Hall of Fame jockey Avelino Gomez, also known as “El Perfecto.”)
While he idolized Cordero's riding style, Dettori adds that his father, 13-time Italian champion jockey Gianfranco Dettori, was his “first hero.” He describes their close bond as a “typical father-son relationship,” though he quips that his father has yet to “ease up” in his expectations for Frankie's race-riding skills.
“Oh, Dad is, in quotes, 'a pain in the backside still!'” said Dettori. “He's 82 now, he still yells at me and he still talks to me like I'm an apprentice. He wants to scrutinize every race. Listen, I enjoy the bollockings, it's quite fun. It used to get to me when I was quite young, but not anymore.
“We have an amazing working relationship. He roots for me, he gives me his opinion. We discuss and argue. Remember, sometimes it's nice to have somebody to talk to about the races. He can be quite volatile sometimes, though. There's no 'well done' – there's proper shouting matches. But that's the Italian way, you know?”
Read more of the dynamic jockey's interview at the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
The post ‘Why I Stole His Flying Dismount’: Frankie Dettori Recounts Riding Lesson With Angel Cordero appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
