Frankie Dettori pays tribute to fan favourite Daylami after legendary horse dies

06 April 2023 , 11:22

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Frankie Dettori celebrates on Daylami, who has died aged 29 (Image: Getty Images)

Frankie Dettori has paid tribute to one of his favourite horses, the hugely popular grey Daylami, who has died at the age of 29.

Daylami, one of the early Godolphin superstars, won seven Group 1 races around the world with Dettori aboard for five of them, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf in 1999.

“Daylami’s arrival at Godolphin coincided with some of my greatest days with the team,” said Dettori. “He was such an honest horse and a great pleasure to ride.”

Daylami, who began his career in France, won 11 of his 21 starts, earning £2.2 million in prize-money, with victories in the Eclipse Stakes and Man O’War Stakes in 1998.

The following year he won the Coronation Cup, the King George, by five lengths, and the Irish Champion Stakes, by nine lengths, signing off in the Breeders’ Cup at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

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He died at his breeder the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Ireland four years after retiring from stallion duties.

Daylami winning the 1999 King George (Getty Images)

Simon Crisford, who was Godolphin racing manager when the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Daylami became European champion, said: “He was fantastic. He was a great racehorse who represented Godolphin on the world stage in the most incredible manner, whether it was Dubai, America, Europe.

“His victory in the King George was the first time he showed an electric turn of foot that we hadn’t really seen before. He had always been grinding his races out. He took that on from there to Ireland and the US.

“He was a stable favourite, probably because he was a grey. You always knew when he was ready to win. He would put his race face on and come out of his stable walking on his hind legs.”

Jon Lees