Chester Vase winner Arrest looks likely to be Frank Dettori’s mount in the legendary jockey’s last ride in the Epsom Derby (Racing TV)
Frankie Dettori won the Premio Parioli, the Italian 2,000 Guineas, for the first time in his career at the beginning of May, but the horse who clinched this milestone moment for him, Vero Atleta (Gleneagles), could only manage fourth place in Sunday’s Italian Derby.
It did not matter in the long scheme of things, because the only one of Italy’s four biggest races, the 1000 Guineas, the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and The Oaks, which had been missing on Dettori’s CV had been the 1000 Guineas.
He will retire happy he has finally completed the Italian classic set, having previously had four seconds in the Italian 1000 Guineas, a race his father Gianfranco won twice (1989 and 1991).
Yesterday (Monday) saw Dettori taking part in a vital gallop.
He went to Epsom Downs to ride the John and Thady Gosden-trained Arrest (Frankel), on whom he easily won the Group 3 Chester Vase.
The colt worked from the top of the course, down Tattenham corner and into the straight.
The Irish Mirror reported Arrest had banished concerns over whether he would handle the track and Dettori had said: “At this stage he’s my Epsom Derby ride.”
“It is always a worry because he’s a big horse to get round that bend but we went round there fine – no problem. He’s growing up, getting stronger and Chester did him the world of good.”
