Frankie Dettori’s last ever flying dismount after winning the Gr 1 Grande Premio Estado do Rio De Janeiro in Brazil (via Instagram)
Frankie Dettori: I couldn’t have written a better finale for myself by winning in Brazil, the hobby I’m hoping to pick back up in retirement, a tip for the Saudi Cup, why Brazil will win the World Cup and Arsenal are on course for the Premier League title
This interview was held this week with legendary now former jockey and current Stake ambassador Frankie Dettori, who officially retired from the sport after a glittering career last week when landing the Group 1 Grande Premio Estado do Rio De Janeiro in Brazil.
Q: Day one of your retirement – what were your emotions?
FD: My emotions are that I’m still figuring out how to process it all. There’s no going back this time!
We left the races late on Sunday night. They had a little bit of barbeque for me, then I went to the Samba school!
As a treat they suggested I walk with one of the floats in the rehearsal for the Rio Carnival which starts at the end of next week. I wasn’t on the float, just walking beside. That was a great experience.
On Monday morning I woke up and tried to process everything that happened on Sunday at the races. I’m pretty happy and still in that bubble of the great send off they gave me.
I’m still processing it all. I don’t feel I regret it. But bear in mind that this is my third retirement, so I’ve had plenty of practice!
But now it really is time to say goodbye.
I got my last trophy. I haven’t got a house at the moment, so I probably will give it to my son, and he can put it in his bedroom.
Q: Only you could go out in the way you did! You won the Brazilian 2000 Guineas, didn’t you?
FD: Yes! The first leg of their Triple Crown.
The things that you don’t plan tend to come out best. I never planned to finish off my career in Rio, but they were very keen to have me as part of the centenary of the racetrack at Gavea.
I was just happy to race here but they brought forward the big race by a week so I could take part. I don’t know why because I was just happy to ride in a normal race.
Imagine trying to move the Kentucky Derby or the 2000 Guineas in England a week early just for me! That’s how much they wanted me to come.
Luckily enough, my first ride won, so I was very emotional. They got me on stage, they presented me with a plaque and said thanks very much for choosing Rio for your last day.
Then my wife, Catherine, came on the podium. I was tearful with joy.
When I felt the warmth of the people, I thought, ‘Wow, I’m not going to have this again. ‘
I wasn’t emotional about not riding again. I think I got to a point now that I’ve done so much of it, I think my fire inside as a professional jockey is not as strong as it was.
So, I chose the right time to stop.
But I was emotional thinking this is my last winner, that this was my last time on stage and of course I was choking up a bit.
Then I had to get ready for the next few races and I rode another one – I came last in the Fillies’ Triple Crown.
Then it was the Colts’ Triple Crown which is their 2000 Guineas. I was drawn 16 of 16 and everybody said, ‘Oh, nobody wins from there.’
I had no idea about the horse which was called Bet You Can.
It was a 20-1 shot. I was getting instructions from the owner and trainer. I rode him like I usually do, using my instinct – and we won!
As I crossed that line I said to myself, ‘I can’t believe this!’
So, when I came back in, I wasn’t emotional as I’d already won the first race. I was able to really enjoy it. I thought, ‘This is great. This is special. This is more than I imagined. Winning a Group 1 as my last ever winner.’
I was really able to really enjoy it without crying. I could not have written the finale better myself.
Q: Throughout your great career that’s what fed you, the rapport you have with the crowd wasn’t it?
FD: Yes, and I think the people fed off me too. They can be part of what I do and enjoy it because I’m quite an emotional person. I can be high, low, dry, happy, and they can relate to that.
I guess I get people more involved in my sport.
Q: Looking back at your great career, if you don’t mind being a bit nostalgic, when was the moment you felt, ‘Yes, I can do this, I could make a success of this?’
To be honest, the first year I started when I was 16, I was riding apprentice races and I thought ‘You know what, I have got this. ‘
It may be embarrassing to say, but I felt like I’m better than these guys.
Then it just snowballed.
Q: You’ve had thousands of winners, what’s the best result? What’s the best horse?
FD: My best achievement was obviously winning the seven races at Ascot in 1996, 30 years ago this year. Emotionally, I would say when I won the Derby on Golden Horn, emotionally I felt great.
Q: You’ve obviously had dozens of people wishing you well in your retirement. Has anyone famous sent you their best wishes?
FD: To be honest, lots! I don’t actually do my social media. My sponsors do it. I’ve been told that people all over the world, footballers, golfers, cricketers, all sorts of sports people have sent me best wishes. So, it would be unfair to single a couple out.
Q: It was unexpected that you would finish in Brazil. Was there any temptation to have one last ride in England?
Last year I got the urge a bit, Wesley Ward was pushing me to ride. In the end he didn’t have any runners.
But honestly, the way I finished my English career in October 2023 with the Champion Stakes, all my family was there. I couldn’t beat that.
And I thought, ‘What’s the point?’ I want to finish with a great memory of what I achieved and not spoil it.
But I did have the devil on one shoulder telling me, ‘Come me on one more time, just get that buzz one more time.’
But the good devil told me, ‘You don’t want to spoil what you did.’
Q: Is there a ride or a result you wish you could change and get a different outcome?
FD: Probably the balls up was Swain in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and I wish I could have won a Melbourne Cup. My wife’s relatives are from down under in Australia. It would have been a good thing to do for them.
But nobody has a perfect career in life. So, I’m satisfied with what I have done.
Q: Your favourite horse?
FD: Enable and Fujiyama Crest, the last one of the seven timer.
Q: What was special about Enable?
As a jockey, you’re racing every day on different horses. We all love horses, but it’s the horses what take you to a special place that you remember.
They take you emotionally somewhere that some of the everyday horses can’t. You get to love them a little bit more and Enable was one of those. Those special horses that emotionally give you something more than the others. You tend to love them a bit more.
Q: Which horse would you love to have ridden but didn’t?
FD: Frankel without a doubt. The best of all time.
Q: Who was your biggest rival in the saddle?
Lots!
The thing is, back in the 80s when there was a massive Coolmore-Godolphin rivalry, there was Michael Kinane, Kieran Fallon, Johnny Murtagh who is a good friend of mine.
Those were the big rivalries that I had. It was every weekend. But then there were Olivier Peslier, Christophe Soumillon, Ryan Moore. I rode against all the greats, Lester Piggot, Steve Cauthen.
Every year I’d have different greats to deal with. You deal with the challenges that you get at the time.
Q: Where are the most passionate fans? Where’s the rapport? Where’s that sort of atmosphere the best?
FD: I’ll be honest with you, and only because I’ve been here, the passion in South America is incredible.
But everywhere really, England, Japan, Australia., Hong Kong. Each is unique.
Q: For so many years, you pretty much carried the sport. You were the face of racing. You were the one jockey that people on the street identified with and recognised. Is there someone who can take that mantle now?
It’s not for me to say. We’ll find out. I’m on the other side of the fence now and I’ll be curious to see. I really don’t know who that might be.
Q: You’re 55 now and obviously still very competitive. Do you have any remaining ambition?
FD: Listen, I just finished yesterday. I still have to kind of wind down and process it all. I am really looking forward to continuing with Stake who have been great to me.
I am going to look forward to a new chapter in my life and I will take it one step at a time. I don’t really want to set targets for myself because I don’t have a target. I just want to do well.
Q: Will you still continue to ride out?
FD: At the moment I have no desire. I just need to have a break and then we’ll see. I’m not going to say yes, I’m not going to say no.
I just need to switch off a bit.
It doesn’t come overnight after you’ve been doing the same thing for 40 years. I’m processing things slowly, slowly.
Q: How long do you think it will take to process and decompress? Will there always be that yearning inside you thinking,
FD: Well, I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never done this before. So of course I don’t know. I’m learning as well, I’ll let you know, everybody’s different and everybody processes things differently.
Q: Looking back at the 15, 16-year-old who came over to England all those years ago, you can look back with immense pride at what you’ve achieved. But could you ever have imagined that you’d reach the heights you did?
FD: To be honest with you, I never look back. I look forward.
I never thought I’d get to this position. When you first start, you never think of the day that you retire, but it has happened. Life goes really quick.
I’ve had great memories. I can’t even remember what I thought when I first started.
As you live life, you change. I am a great believer that you change every 10 years. Now I’m getting towards 60.
What you are going through and what you want to achieve is also different.
Q: You must be very proud. That must be your overriding emotion. No one’s really done what you’ve done and left such an impact.
FD: I have had an amazing career with ups and downs. I’ve loved it.
I’m just pleased to say that I closed this chapter, and I was able to walk away on two legs.
I’ve had colleagues who have died, people in wheelchairs, on life support machines, all of that sort of thing throughout my 40-year span.
Not just jockeys, lads, work riders. I just thank God I was able to walk out on Sunday night.
I have great feelings for everybody who does what we do. I just pray for them to be healthy and safe.
Q: How would you like to be remembered as a jockey?
That as a jockey, I sold the sport. I enjoyed what I did. I hope I gave people enjoyment throughout the world and I hope a lot of people won lots of money!
Q: In your new chapter how will you be sharing your tactical insights and your Frankie magic with the community who invest in horse racing, that is to say, the punters?
FD: Even the last few months I have had to share my knowledge about races when I wasn’t even involved, but I still watched.
When you’re doing this job as a jockey you’ve got an eye for what you see, what people make mistakes or which horse will benefit from changing distance or changing ground.
I’ve got that knowledge still and let’s hope it never goes away.
Q: Now you can take a step back. Is there anything you want to pursue? Is there a hobby or a pursuit? Something that you’ve never had time to do, but you’d like to take up?
FD: To be honest no!
I am only thinking about being involved with my work for Stake.
I have to stop thinking about Frankie Dettori, myself and what I’m going to ride.
Q: As a jockey do you have to be quite selfish because it’s such a competitive environment? You’ve got to be selfish to succeed haven’t you?
FD: Absolutely, yeah. When you’re a jockey it is only you and the horse.
Now I’m involved in a huge team, and I have to be part of it. I can’t just be thinking about myself.
So, it is an exciting road ahead and I’m looking forward to it.
The good thing about it is it’s keeping me in racing, keeping me in the sport that has been so good to me for over 40 years.
I’m super excited because it is every sportsman’s nightmare, ‘What are you going to do next?’
I’ll be honest with you, if this opportunity didn’t come, I probably would have done one more year in California, but then you are back to the same problem, ‘What are you going to do next?’
So, when this opportunity came, I had to grab it with two hands and run with it.
Q: In your role as an expert, if you’re looking at a race, what tells you for instance that a hot favourite is in trouble? What are the warning signs?
Well, I don’t want to say too much and give away my trade secrets!
But if you were in the position that I am and have done what I’ve done for so many years, people inside the sport, not just me, can pick up things that the general public can’t.
There is no one classic example. It’s the same thing as a football pundit who has played the game at the top for a long time, can spot something that I can’t spot because I’m not a football pundit. I’m not a football person.
You have this advantage which only comes with experience.
Q: If you had time for a holiday, what is your favourite destination? Where would you love to be putting your feet up briefly?
FD: Of course I’d love to go back to Italy. I also like the snow and I like skiing too. Some place that is quite active. I’m a person who can’t really sit still for too long. It’s going to be something that engages me mentally.
Of course, I love the sun, but you know I can’t really lie in the sun bed for more than 10 minutes you know.
I have just got to engage my brain to do something.
Q: Were you able to ski as a jockey or was the risk too great of injury or breaking something?
FD: I have skied since I was a little boy so skiing to me was never a problem.
I wasn’t really allowed to ski when I worked for Godolphin. But I did! I won’t lie to you.
Touch wood everything went well.
Now that I’m retired, I’ll probably go and twist my knee when I go skiing next time.
Q: The Saudi Cup is coming up soon. How do you approach it differently from a big European group one?
FD: You want to see a race like that succeed because it helps develop the sport. When I started racing, when the Arlington Million was created, I think in 1984, nobody thought we’d have a race for a million dollars.
Now the Saudi Cup is US$20 million, 40 years down the road.
It’s great because it gives awareness to people who don’t know anything about racing. It’s good for an owner to invest in racing knowing that if they have a horse that is good enough, they are racing for $20 million.
I think it’s amazing. I wish that more countries could put up their kind of money. Australia, Hong Kong and Japan are putting up big prize money.
I think the only one left behind really is Europe.
They’re prestigious races, but they don’t have the money. Only a handful does really.
Q: From the tactical point of view, what’s it like riding in the Saudi Cup? What do you have to do differently?
FD: Riyadh, where they hold the Saudi Cup, is probably the best dirt track I’ve ridden in my life.
It’s very kind on the kickback so even turf forces can do really well.
Last year Romantic Warrior was a turf horse who did really well.
The worry for turf horses is that they can’t face the kickback because we don’t train them on the sand.
But at the Riyadh track, the sand is very fine, and it doesn’t hurt them.
So, turf horses can face it, it doesn’t stop them. And so it gives an opportunity even if you’ve got a grass horse.
Q: Tactically there, is it a question of trying to get an early lead and stay there or is it a question of timing your run to perfection depending on how the race unfolds?
FD: To be honest it all depends on whether you have a good horse under you!
Q: Does the dirt surface present different challenges for a jockey?
FD: The dirt is more about sustaining speed throughout. On the turf you can stop and start a couple of times in the race, and you can still win.
The breeding also makes a difference.
Some horses are bred to have a lower action to suit the dirt while a grass horse has more of a longer, rangier action to cover the grass.
There is a difference. And some horses are better than others on one type of track.
The exceptional ones can be good on both.
Q: How good is the Saudi Cup in terms of quality and intensity? It is improving all the time isn’t it?
FD: Last year you had Forever Young who won the Saudi Cup, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic and just got beaten in the Kentucky Derby. He’s as good as you get in the world.
Romantic Warrior was second and just got beaten by a neck. He has won four Hong Kong Cups; he’s won just about everything.
You can’t get any better than that.
Q: Does the big prize put any extra pressure on a jockey or is it something great to go for?
The winning jockey gets a million dollars! It’s amazing. The pressure is always there whatever the race really.
But obviously you like to get a big one like the Saudi Cup! It’s not going to make your ride any better. You’re still going to ride as well as you can.
Q: What’s the biggest unknown for a jockey heading into the Saudi Cup for the first time?
FD: Most of the jockeys who ride in these big races are well seasoned top class riders. They’re not going to put any rookie or an apprentice up! So, there’s nothing that I can tell those kind of guys.
But obviously like in any big, very competitive race, you have to be aggressive, you have to be clever, all the normal things you would do in any big race.
Q: Do you have a tip for the Saudi Cup?
Forever Young all the way. What a horse.
Q: Will Arsenal do it and win the Premier League?
I don’t want to jinx it but yes, after 22 years I think they can.
Q: What do you make of the job Arteta has done?
FD: I wasn’t so sure about him four years ago but he’s coming up with the goods and we’re close.
Q: Would you prefer the league title or the Champions League?
Both! We haven’t won the Champions League. Let’s hope we get at least one.
Q: We’ve got the World Cup this summer. Who do you think might win it and who’s going to be in the semi-finals?
I think Argentina and England will do really well. Italy over the last few years have not been that powerful. Then there’s France, Spain and Brazil.
And then you get teams like Croatia that are always doing well. And there’s often an African team that pops up.
When I was a kid, it was always just the usual suspects, Italy, Brazil, and Argentina. Now it is far more open which is great.
Q: Who’s your idea of a World Champion?
I’m going to watch it as a fan. So, I’m not going to have a preference. I love all the big teams, of course, and enjoy and live the moment.
Maybe Brazil though because that’s where I finished my career. Maybe they’re going to finish on a high as well, that would be a great win double!
