FRANKIE DETTORI

COVER STORY

Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori (born in Milan on 15 December 1970) is one of the world’s most celebrated jockeys (ph. Jon Enoch)

COVER STORY

MY HORSE-FEVER LIFE

FOUR-TIME WINNER OF THE DUBAI WORLD CUP AND THE LIVING LEGEND OF HORSERACING FRANKIE DETTORI TELLS US ABOUT HIS LOVE FOR ITALY AND DUBAI text Teresa Favi

Frankie Dettori is a living legend of horseracing, one of the world’s most celebrated jockeys. He has ridden the winners of over three thousand races and has won dozens won for the fourth time the Dubai World Cup, the world’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. He rode Meydan Grandstand racecourse, a marvel in architecture featuring a grandstand over a mile in length, a navigable channel sailed through by yachts connected to the city’s center, stables, restaurants, gardens and luxury services, hotel with suite rooms overlooking the racecourse. Gianfranco, a famous Sardinia-born jockey himself, wanted Dettori to cut his teeth in the home of horseracing, Newmarket, a few hours-drive from London, entrusting him to the care of the famous trainer Luca Cumani. His season. He is married to Catherine, the daughter of William Allen, the world’s most famous horse veterinarian and a well-known professor of the nearby University of Cambridge. The couple, who now lives in a lovely cot lish abbreviation of his Italian name, Lanfranco, has the Four Moors, the symbol of Sardinia, tattooed on his right stars, one for each child: Leo, Ella, Mia, Tallula, Rocco. He is known and loved across the United Kingdom as no other Italian before or since. A dear friend of the Royal Family, he late Queen Elizabeth II horses for thirty years, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Dettori is a great champion used to setting records. He is the six-time winner of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Europe’s most important horserace, and seven-time winner of the King George race in Aston, the world’s temple of horseracing. During his over thirty-year career, the Italian jockey has been on the team of many other major racing stables: he was a member of the Godolphin team, owned by Sheikh an astonishing number of victories to the racing stable of Sheikh Mohammed. The relationship came suddenly Arc de Triomphe race, an accident a few days before the event changed all his plans. It was a very hard time for Dettori, perhaps the worst. Someone believed he was done for good, but not only horses can be purebred: talent made the difference. The rest is the story of his come published his autobiography Leap Of Faith, in which he tells about his victories, his defeats and even his weaknesses. The book is a good chance to learn more about the world’s greatest jockey.

A few months ago, Dubai’s sky lit up with the Italian

Dettori is based in Newmarket, not far from London, by 1985. He rode late Queen Elizabeth II horses for thirty years, rewarding her with 50 and the Queen rewarded him in 2016, by appointing him Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

During his over thirty-year career, he has been on the team of many other major racing stables (ph. Jon Enoch)

As a living legend of horseracing he is the six-time winner of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Europe’s most important horserace, and seven-time winner of the King George race in Aston, the world’s temple of horseracing

COVER STORY

The World Cup is one of the most special nights of the year and very competitive as well. Hence you get international competition and interest and that is what the Dubai Royal family wanted when they created it. What a night!

I was very lucky when Sheikh Mohammed formed Godolphin and trusted me to be at the front of that ing to mushroom, so it was a handin-glove relationship. I always love to be in Dubai.

I’ve genuinely seen Dubai emerge from the desert and witnessed Sheikh Mohammed’s vision. I’m a modern international man and just love the way the country constantly changes and evolves. I love Dubai Marina, but the highway has always fascinated me combined with the old souks.

My father was as famous and good as any other jockey of his generation. He worked his way up from being a humble stable lad to winning classic races in England and was champion in Italy for so many years. I’m so proud of him.

Of course, but really the start of my career was for Luca (Cumani, editor’s note continued from there!

I am Italian at heart and my coffee habits and love of Italy will never change. I am grateful to England which spirit will always be Italian.

ON MARCH 26, 2022, FRANKIE DETTORI WON FOR THE FOURTH TIME The late Queen was a great THE DUBAI WORLD CUP, THE WORLD’S RICHEST RACE DAY horseracing fan. She loved horses and I rode her horses for thirty years. I met with her many times and she always made me feel at ($12 MILLION) ease.

AND ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS RACES I adored the late Queen Elizabeth II and he is an amazing man who will be a fantastic King. The entire family are wonderful and have been very kind to the world of horseracing. He will be brilliant.

I don’t know, but it’s in the thousands and I’m very grateful for having lived a wonderful life so far.

The horse runs for me and I understand pace in a race. Plus I’m so grateful for all of the support that I have had.