Frankie Dettori was in a positive mood Friday despite drawing a blank on his
first day back on a racecourse following his six-month suspension and was
looking to the future as he starts a new chapter in his life as a freelance
jockey.
The former champion jockey had three mounts at Epsom on Oaks Day but neither
Beatrice Aurore (last in the Princess Elizabeth), Fattsota (fifth in a
10-furlong handicap) nor Sri Putra (last in the Diomed) managed to
trouble the judge in what turned out to be a low-key comeback for the Italian.
“I’m delighted to be back and I just want to stop thinking about the last six
months and start riding winners again,” Dettori said.
“It was great to get my license back this week and even better to be back at
Epsom. What’s gone on in the past is in the past and I hope I can come back
stronger.
“It’s been a long six months, but the time off was a novelty to begin with.
I’ve been able to eat what I want and spend time with my family so the first
three or four months were quite relaxing.
“It wasn’t until the Dubai World Cup that I really started missing racing, so
I got myself fit again by riding out in France and Britain, and I’ve been quite
surprised by my fitness levels this afternoon, even though I’ve still got about
two or three pounds left to lose.
“I’m really looking forward to the new challenge of being a freelance, but
obviously I’m grateful to Sheikh Mohammed for all the opportunities he has given
me over the years.
“It’s a shame that I didn’t get my license before the deadline for this
weekend’s Derby but it would have been really unfair on the owners and trainers
of all the runners to try and find me a ride.
“I had been scared at the thought of riding as a freelance after everything
that has happened, but now I’m in a positive mood and I’ve set myself the aim of
getting spot-on for Royal Ascot.”
There was a bit of drama before Dettori got to Epsom Friday, as he revealed
when speaking to PA Sport.
“I was extremely nervous today coming down,” the rider said. “I wanted
everything to go as smoothly as it could.
“I booked a helicopter, but it was foggy in Newmarket and it couldn’t take
off. I drove and got stuck in traffic. I thought, ‘God, I’ve not been riding for
six months and I’m going to miss the first one.’
“I jumped out and a couple of security guards stopped me coming in, because I
didn’t have a badge. I leapt over a rail and ran the last three furlongs, I
didn’t care who tried to catch me. Unfortunately I had two lasts and a fifth,
but I felt surprisingly good and comfortable.”
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