After Dinner Speakers: Frankie Dettori, Franz Nawratil, John Inverdale

Probably the most recognised man on a horse anywhere in the world since Clint Eastwood & John Wayne. Frankie can be considered the world's perfect jockey. His 3 wins from 6 races on the 2003 World Cup card were executed to perfection. First there was a gritty win on Firebreak. Then came a perfectly excuted "waiting" ride on Sulamani that gobbled up the field with every stride down the straight. Frankie could have left the waiting a little "overdone". Instead, he angled his horse to the outside and ground the leader down in time for the post. In the Ł2.25m World Cup, his ride on Moon Ballad was very similar to the one he gave Dubai Millenium in 2000. Breaking alertly, he let the US seasoned campaigner, Harlan's Holiday burn the early trail whilst keeping his horse some way off the rails so as to not get into a pulling duel. Sensing that the US horse was not going at the pace he wanted he let Moon Ballad pick up a gear and then slotted into the number 1 lane when he was clear. All this within the first 700m of the race! From there to the 600m, it was a strong cruise and soon the pack behind was toiling and Frankie knew it. Into the straight, the son of Singspiel was skipping along and was starting to really extend himself. Whereas Duabi M. had seemed to tire in the last furlong, Moon Ballad was earnest and ran true to the line.....making this a more impressive display of "attack from the front" tactics. Born as Lanfranco, on December 15th, 1970, in Italy, Frankie had a head-start as his father, Gianfranco, was a top Italian jockey who had won the 2,000 Guineas in 1975 & 1976. Although he started his apprenticeship in Newmarket in 1985 with Luca Cumani, he rode 17 winners in the winter season of 1986/87 in Italy. His first UK winner was aboard Lizzy Hare at Goodwood on June 9th, 1987 although his first ever winner was on Rif at Turin on November 16th, 1986. At the age of 19, Cumani appointed him as stable jockey to replace Ray Cochrane after Frankie had become Champion Apprentice in 1989. In 1990, he rode 100 winners in a season (the first teenager to do so since Lester Piggott) and won his first Group 1 with a masterful ride on Markofdistinction in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. 1991 saw a slight drop in winners at 94 but he did win his first Derby, the German one, on Temporal. 1992 provided his second century and he rode outsider Polytain to win the French Derby. Up to the better part of 1992, Frankie had always ridden in a low crouched style but with his feet well in the irons. Towards the end of 1992, Frankie started changing his style to the toe-in-the-iron, ankle-breaking, calf-tearing, stirrups-twisted like a rubber band, low tuck, rein-shortening, rythmical style he now uses to such great effect. About the only thing he did keep was the very British backhander that he still employs. He is one of few jockeys whose hands on the reins rest below the height of the horse's mouth. This, along with the play on his ankles allow him to take the pressure of the horse's mouth and relax his mounts to great effect. I remember well the first race on the card at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in 1993. His mount started slightly sluggishly from an inside draw. But Frankie, leathers even shorter than usual, rousted his mount to share the lead. Into the straight, nobody looked more American than LD and we all wanted him to win but however his mount tired and we knew we would have to wait for another day Probably the best track he rides would be Longchamp where he often leads from the front. He is definitely the jockey to have in a tight finish or for horses that need holding up. They seem to explode in the final furlong with him on board. People now love his flying dismounts, not always in Group 1s, as his "thank you" to the fans. Frankie's Magnificent 7 at Ascot on 28 September 1996 was an amazing feat. His concentration was an example to sportsmen & women in any field. The seven winners were: Wall Street (Cumberland Lodge Stakes), Diffident (Diadem Stakes), Decorated Hero (Tote Festival Handicap), Mark of Esteem (Q.E.II Stakes), Fatefully (Rosemary Rated Stakes), Lochangel (Blue Seal Conditions Stakes) and Fujiyama Crest (Gordon Carter Handicap). His other feats have been becoming Champion Jockey in 1994 and 1995, being in his 9th year as stable jockey for Godolphin and winning 9 Classics in the UK. He has also ridden 118 Group 1 winners (to Mezzo Soprano's 2003 Prix Vermeille win). He rode his 100th Group 1 on Kazzia in the 1,000 Guineas. He so nearly had made it the century on Sakhee in the B.C.Classic when just being sniffed out by Tiznow in 2001. The Derby is still missing in his trophy cabinet and perhaps he may be going down the Gordon Richards path here. However, it is a pleasure to have Frankie around and it will be better for the sport if he wins the Derby at 40 and then retires, rather than win it tomorrow and step aside. We all want Frankie to be around for as long as possible. On December 29th, 2000, Frankie was awarded an MBE by the Queen. For the record to 15/09/03, Frankie had won 304 Group races, 118 Grade/Group 1's, 88 Group 2's and 98 Group 3's.