Frankie Dettori gets Royal Ascot invite after landing 15th Breeders' Cup success

04 November 2023 , 21:12

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Frankie Dettori celebrates victory on Inspiral (Image: Getty Images)

Frankie Dettori could be back at Royal Ascot next year after he was offered the ride on Inspiral after guiding her to her sixth Group 1 victory.

John Gosden told him the ride on the outstanding filly was there for him after he rode her to victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. “I’ve already told him he can ride her,” said Gosden. “Lots of American jockeys come over for Royal Ascot each year so why not Frankie.”

Dettori said: “I knew that was coming. At least I’m sure that I’ll be on her when she gets to Del Mar for next year.'s Breeders' Cup. Listen, plenty of water under the bridge. We’ll see what happens. At the moment I’m here to stay.”

Last year the 52-year-old announced he would retire at the end of 2023 and the Breeders’ Cup was where he was expecting to end his career.

Then last month he announced a u-turn, committed himself to riding past his 53rd birthday and would make California his new adopted home.

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Dettori left it late on Insprial, trained by John and Thady Gosden for Cheveley Park Stud, but found the room to pull the filly into daylight and rattle past rivals to deny Warm Heart by a neck. “My main concern was she is always slow out of the gates,” he said. “I had to pass most of the horses.

A flying dismount after Frankie Dettori's 15th Breeders' Cup win (AP)

“She needs a quarter of a mile to really get to top gear. I thought it was better not to go for gaps and I found an opening on the outside and once she found top gear she was flying past the line.

"Job done for the team. Coming into this week I thought she was my best ride and she proved me right. She won’t win a beauty contest but by God, she can run." He added: "I love the Breeders’ Cup. It’s been my making really. It’s been five years since Enable. It’s been really sweet."

Inspiral will stay in training as a five-year-old and her victory over 1m2f could open new opportunities for her with Gosden namechecking the Juddmonte International at York as a probable target.

Jon Lees