03 June 2023 , 13:50
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Frankie Dettori could not write a fairytale ending to his final ride in the Betfred Derby when he could finish only tenth at Epsom.
The 52-year-old, who will retire from race riding in the autumn, had set the day up for a grandstand finale by riding the winners of both feature races on the first day of the Derby Festival, including the Betfred Oaks.
Punters backed him to pull it off, with his mount Arrest going off the 4-1 favourite for the £1.5 million Classic.
Dettori gave it his best shot but ultimately Arrest could not cope with the undulating course, hitting the front with a quarter of a mile to run before gradually weakening, eventually finishing 12 and a half lengths behind winner Auguste Rodin.
“The track was too much for him,” said Dettori. “He just could not run down the hill. His legs were everywhere and, bless him, our chance was gone a long way out. Sorry.”
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Auguste Rodin completed an extraordinary turnaround in form to deliver a ninth Betfred Derby win for master trainer Aidan O’Brien and third triumph for jockey Ryan Moore.
The long-time favourite for the £1.5 million Classic was being tipped as a potential Triple Crown candidate, capable of winning the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger.
Yet he flopped in the first leg of that challenge, embarrassingly beating just two other finishers at Newmarket in May.
O’Brien never lost faith, arguing that a host of factors had conspired against his so-called superstar.
A protestor is tackled by police and stewards (PA)That judgement proved spot on as Auguste Rodin, sent off a 9-2 chance, ran down 66-1 shot King Of Steel to win by half a length with White Birch running into third place, four and three quarter lengths behind the first two.
There was no joy for Frankie Dettori, riding in his last Derby before he retires, as his horse Arrest, the 4-1 favourite finished tenth.
“All the people in Coolmore have made this happen – this is a total homebred horse. It’s all credit to them to make this happen every day,” said O’Brien.
“He came with a massive reputation as a beautiful horse but he kept stepping up to all the markers all the way, which is very unusual.
“He’s totally unique – he’s out of one of the greatest Galileo mares (Rhododendron) by the greatest stallion ever in Japan. I can’t tell you, he’s totally unique.
He went on: ““Ryan said it probably didn’t suit him, he would have preferred a lot stronger pace but he said he had to quicken twice, so obviously he’s so exciting for us.
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“I feel so grateful and so delighted for all the lads, everyone. It’s a great pleasure for us.”
Moore said: "“(Aidan O’Brien) is the only man that could do it. I’ve seen him get horses back after they’ve run badly in the Guineas and then win big races.
"This horse has a great pedigree and he’s always shown he’s a good horse. As Aidan always says, everyone does such a great job at home. Everything went smooth today."