Dettori records 50th Royal Ascot win aboard Osaila

Frankie Dettori celebrated his 50th Royal Ascot victory on Wednesday (Photo courtesy of Ascot Racecourse via Twitter) A crowd of 41,091 watched as jockey Frankie Dettori scored his 50th Royal Ascot victory Wednesday thanks to Osaila (Danehill Dancer)’s late run in the Sandringham H., the final race on Wednesday’s second day of the prestigious meet. Owned by Sheikh Joaan’s Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Richard Hannon, the bay filly was sent off at odds of 13-2 Wednesday and finished a mile in 1:41 by a close nose over 2-1 favorite Always Smile (Cape Cross). “Al Shaqab saved my career so it means a lot (to win in these colors),” Dettori stated. In classic Dettori style, the moment was celebrated with a leap from the saddle, followed by fulsome celebrations and gesticulations to the cameras. At the trophy presentation he did not miss out on a chance to give former athlete Denise Lewis a well-rehearsed hug, and as cheers rang out from the grandstand he shouted, “You’re just jealous!” “Fifty is a big number — it’s not my age by the way! It’s the number of winners I’ve ridden at Royal Ascot. It’s huge and great satisfaction,” Dettori said. “I was getting a bit worried towards the end of the day because I’d had some good rides and people were wishing me luck — I’ve got memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“It’s great to do it for the boss (Sheikh Joaan), and he’s here which is
wonderful. My filly was so brave, and she must have a big
head, because I thought she got beat.

“I have had some bad times but also some really good times,
and this is one of them,” the popular reinsman added. “I have been on a fantastic run and it is great to
continue it here. I’m really enjoying my riding. I can’t really explain it, it
is just unbelievable, and I’m hoping I can ride number 51 tomorrow.”

Ascot is Dettori’s favorite racecourse, and one of his
biggest moments as a jockey came when he won all seven races at the track on
September 29, 1996

Harry Herbert, racing manager for Al Shaqab Racing, praised the rider.

“Frankie is riding at the top of his game — he looks great,
he’s hard as nails, he’s having the year of all years, and it just shows that
when your confidence is with you in any sport, then things will happen. I’m
thrilled for him. It’s wonderful working with him; his enthusiasm, and his
professionalism too, is absolutely fantastic.”

Osaila, who won the Nell Gwyn S. (Eng-G3) at Newmarket in her April 15 seasonal debut,
entered the Sandringham off a supbar seventh in the One Thousand Guineas
(Eng-G1) on May 3.

“She’s put on a lot of weight since the
Guineas,” Hannon said. “I don’t know why she didn’t run her race (that day), but we’ve got her
back. For a filly like that to carry top weight in a race like this is great. Al Shaqab have got a lot of horses with me and it’s good for all of us.”

“I was quite happy this morning, and then
everything went wrong,” Dettori noted. “Euro Charline (Myboycharlie) wouldn’t go in the stalls in the Duke of
Cambridge S. (Eng-G2), and I thought it was going to be one of those days. I knew
this filly had a great chance and she won brilliantly, so I’ve got it off my
back.

“James (Doyle, who rode runner-up Always Smile) got
first run on me and carved me up a little bit but I got him back! I thought no,
I’m not going to beat him, but then the last 100 yards he ran left and I got a
tune out of mine, and we crossed the line — whoo, it’s tighter than I thought!”

“She was well handicapped,” Herbert remarked. “She had to do it the hard way, but she’s won very
impressively. No immediate plans, but we’ll look to see if there is something at Goodwood maybe.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com