NO SHOW WITHOUT FRANKIE!

Lord North created history by becoming the first horse to win three straight renewals of the Gr1 Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World, thanks to the gutsiest of displays under Frankie Dettori at Meydan on Saturday.

John and Thady Gosden’s seven-year-old arrived at Meydan on the back of a winning prep run in last month’s Gr3 Winter Derby at Lingfield Park and he was always prominent under Dettori.

Tracking the early pace behind the Roger Varian-trained El Drama, the leading pack soon swapped places swinging the bend for home, when William Buick took over on Nations Pride.

Buick would have been entitled to think his sweeping move was enough, but Dettori had his measure on Lord North, cosily picking up the lead inside the final furlong for a game success – and stealing first run on the fast-closing Japanese-trained pair of Serifos and Danon Beluga.

That victory means that Dettori has bolstered his record as the race’s most successful jockey with four victories. Those have come with the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Tamayaz (1997), in addition to three on Lord North.

He also extended his lead as the most successful rider at the Dubai World Cup meeting across its near three-decade history, with this marking his 23rd victory since its inception in 1996.

This is Dettori’s final appearance at Meydan before his retirement.

The jockey, who ensured his trademark flying dismount once again graced Dubai, said: “It’s amazing to win once; three times, it’s unreal. Thady has done an amazing job because he’s a horse that gets sick quite easily, that’s why he doesn’t run that often. The boys got him ready for this race and full credit to them, they’ve done great with him.

“And Lord North himself, what a star. To just get one on the board at this beautiful place, in Dubai that has been my home for so many winters, it’s pretty special.”

Thady Gosden said: “The first time he won the race he showed a nice turn of foot and then last year his preparation wasn’t quite as straightforward as this year. The lad who rides him out every day thought he was in much better form than coming into last year. Obviously you can’t say that beforehand in case it all goes wrong.

“It was a little bit messy in the mid-part of the race and coming into the bend, but he missed any trouble and showed a great turn of foot to get to the front. He broke well from three and the strong pace up front definitely helped him; he got a nice tow into it and he picked up as we know he can.

“It’s fantastic and thanks to everyone at home in the yard, to the horse and to Frankie as well. He’s a homebred gelding and it’s fantastic for him to come here and win a race of this quality three times on the trot.”

Winning time: 01:47.39 (race record 01:45.52).