Frankie Dettori's manager opens up on split after 36 years working together

17 July 2023 , 11:40

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Frankie Dettori: under new management (Image: PA)

Frankie Dettori’s long-time manager said there were “no issues” in his friendship with the jockey after their 36 year partnership came to an end, halfway through the jockey’s retirement year.

Dettori, who has announced he will quit the saddle for good in November, will no longer be represented by Peter Burrell after joining up with Howard Kruger’s H Talent Management.

The split was confirmed at the weekend while Burrell was on holiday with his family and Dettori in the middle of a 17 day suspension.

Burrell, speaking to the Nick Luck Daily podcast, said: “We decided two or three weeks ago to head into the paths we need to go in.

“I’m 60, Frankie’s 52. We just felt the time was right and I felt it was right as well for me to get some direction of travel on my own.

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“There’s no issues, it’s a direction of travel. I can walk forwards into doing some other stuff. It’s my time to do other things as well, maybe.”

Burrell has a part-time role with the Professional Jockeys Association, represents emerging jockey Billy Loughnane and also has businesses manufacturing gravel rakes and selling malt whisky.

He accepted that Dettori, long tipped to one day appear in ITV ’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, would need a different type of agency after he leaves racing.

He said: “I don’t think many other people could have got round the rigmarole of the racing world with the panache that was required to have a client where you didn’t know where he was going to be until two days beforehand, so any confirmed appearances could never really be on the cards.”

Dettori will ride for the final time in Britain on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on October 21 and has agreed to ride at the Breeders’ Cup in the US and Melbourne Cup Spring Carnival in November afterwards.

“We had a great run and a great trot and when he has more time on his hands, a more specialist agency will be better for him." said Burrell.

“Ascot have a wonderful day coming on Champions Day which I have been closely involved in. The stage is set. I feel I have done my job. The pizza is ready to come out of the oven, so to speak."

Jon Lees