Famous European equestrian Frankie Dettori will be based on Santa Anita . Park for the winter season starting from the first day of the upcoming meeting on December 26.
Dettori, who told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast that he rode four winters at Arcadia, California, oval as a “boy” in the late 1980s, says he’ll be back on track in winter instead of his usual trip to Dubai.
“At this stage in my career, I’ve done a lot in Dubai,” Dettori told Luck. “I needed a new challenge and this opportunity came. People told me they wanted me there, why not? Better late than never, try it.”
Jockey Agent Ron Anderson, a longtime friend of Dettori, said he would represent him during his time in California.
Anderson said: “Frankie rode for Richard Cross at Hollywood Park when he was 15 and a half years old. “I was working there and met him at the time because I represented Fernando Toro, who was riding for Richard.
“He’s a loud kid with as much energy as he is. I asked Richard, ‘Who is this kid?’ He said ‘you should be nicer to him.’ I asked him what he wanted to say about it and he replied, ‘This kid is going to be famous.’ “
Years later, Cross’s claim came true as Dettori has established himself as a key element in first-class equestrianism, including 112 starts at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships with 14 in That number is the first trip.
The jockey is currently in Australia preparing to ride Hosier in The Big Dance on November 1 at Randwick Racecourse, and will move to Kentucky in the coming days for the World Championships at Keeneland.
He has been named to ride the Queens Plate winner Moira in The Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), Last call in Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), and Mishriff in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T).
“He’s a joy. He’s a world-class racer, a world-class person. I’ve known him before this and he’s very grounded,” Anderson said. “I’m going to have both him and Johnny (Velasquez) at Santa Anita. I’m looking forward to all of this.”
Although Anderson and Dettori have kept in touch for many years and work together periodically when riders travel to the US for larger races, this will be a long-term partnership for both.
Anderson said there weren’t any specific trainers that the jockey would ride when he arrived in California but he didn’t anticipate problems finding mounts.
He added that a trip to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May could very well be an option for Dettori, whose last ride in the Kentucky Derby (G1) came in 2000 when he rode China visit finished in sixth place.
“He wouldn’t have any problem riding anyone,” Anderson said. “For me it’s better, I don’t want to have my hands tied. I want to be able to run zigzag.
“I wouldn’t think with him living in California that we’d have any problems getting him to be 3… He’d be so sought after. , he’d bring new enthusiasm to the business just because he was present.”
