Frankie Dettori labels farewell tour "nuts" after Absurde headlines York double

26 August 2023 , 17:10

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Frankie Dettori treats his fans to a flying dismount after 7-1 win on Absurde (Image: Getty)

It was Absurde – Frankie Dettori's £500,000 Sky Bet Ebor winner had him chuckling at his "nuts" farewell tour.

Racing's biggest name signed off at York on a high, his 25-1 double headlined by Willie Mullins' enigmatic stayer.

Dettori, 52, jogged down to the start with his horse, overcame the widest draw and thwarted 5-2 favourite Sweet William. His fans cheered his final 'flying dismount,' a regular scene on racecourses this summer for the in-form jockey.

"I got my ninth Ascot (Gold Cup) win, won the 2,000 Guineas, Oaks, Jacques Le Marois, Juddmonte International, Ebor - I mean it's nuts!" said Dettori, who could ride Absurde in November's Melbourne Cup.

"I wouldn't do this in a good year, never mind in my final year. I thought I was beat, my best friend Rab (Havlin, Sweet William's jockey) came with a good run and in fairness he has stuck my neck out like Willie Mullins' horses do and he won."

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Dettori had earlier struck lucky on one of his favourites Kinross (9-4f), typically gritty in the Sky Bet City Of York Stakes. After the heroics of a horse likely to be one his final rides in December, the day got even better with a little help from National Hunt great Mullins.

Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap on Absurde (PA)

Dettori kept Absurde wide early, before he opted to join the main pack behind pacesetter Berkshire Rocco. Narrowly in front with two furlongs to go, his 7-1 mount looked vulnerable when Sweet William loomed up.

But Absurde battled on bravely to hold him off by half a length, with the same distance back to third-placed Live Your Dream (11-1).

Sweet William (right, headgear) got closest to pinching the prize from Absurde, who was led down to the start by Dettori (Getty)

"I don't know where Frankie got the energy to get him up in the last 100 yards," said Mullins, 14 years on from his last Ebor success with Sesenta. "He pulled it out of the fire, he was brilliant."

Dettori was capturing the four-day Festival's signature contest for the third time, a highlight among 187 wins from 946 rides at the track.

Newmarket also provided Andrea Atzeni with a fitting exit before he embarks on a new race-riding adventure in Hong Kong. Lezoo, a Ralph Beckett-trained stablemate of Kinross, delivered the goods in Newmarket's JenningsBet Hopeful Stakes.

Melissa Jones