Never mind Santa Anita Park, first stop when Frankie Dettori arrives in the United States on Oct. 24 has to be Hollywood having scripted a fairytale end to his 37-year riding career in Britain with a performance worthy of an Oscar on King Of Steel in the Qipco Champion Stakes.
On a day that has been 10 months in the making since Dettori earmarked Champions Day as his last fixture in Britain back in December, it felt like every man, woman, and child was at Ascot to see the greatest rider of his generation show his magic one last time.
Born for such an occasion, Dettori was in his element from the moment he lifted Trawlerman home in the opening Long Distance Cup (G2), while a narrow defeat aboard Kinross in the Champions Sprint (G1) only stoked the inferno raging within his soul.
It was wet, murky, and muddy by the time the Champion Stakes ticked around but Dettori was here to put on a show and, in the words of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, he went out and did it his way.
Riding Derby runner-up King Of Steel for the first time, Dettori dropped anchor aboard the 3-1 favourite, sitting last and getting pelted with soggy divots for his trouble.
Even to the staunchest Dettori supporter, it did not look good. The 52-year-old was pushing his partner along from four furlongs out, yet the leaders were not extending their advantage, and from two furlongs out the dream finish started to look a possibility for the first time.
It felt like slow motion in the closing stages but all that did was allow the crowd to raise their voices louder and louder. The roar was deafening, Dettori was in full cry, and King Of Steel rallied.
King of Steel charges past his rivals to win the Champion Stakes
It was tight at the finish, just three-quarters of a length separated Amo Racing’s giant gray from plucky runner-up Via Sistina at the post, but Dettori had somehow managed one last miracle at his spiritual home.
“Honestly, my emotions are all over the place,” said Dettori, wiping both hands over his face to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “I can’t believe it. The crowd got this horse over the line. I was doing my best on top but the scream that I got was incredible.
“Thanks to all of you—you made me win this race and it was fantastic. It was a Hollywood script and I love you.”
Racegoers welcome back King of Steel and Frankie Dettori after winning the Champion Stakes
For a man who has worn his emotions on his sleeve for almost four decades, Dettori did a fine job to hold the tears back but as the crowd started to chant his name like he was on the oche at Alexandra Palace, his voice did momentarily wobble.
“I don’t know what to feel,” he said. “Is this real?”
It most certainly was real, although even Dettori admitted that he feared the race was getting away from him as King Of Steel toiled in the early stages.
“I struggled from the beginning,” he said. “He was stumbling but then he started to come good. When they kicked they left me a little bit but he found a second wind, dug deep, and the crowd got him over the line.
“It’s a fairytale ending for me; Ascot is my home and I’m pretty emotional to be honest.”
While the day belonged to Dettori, winning trainer Roger Varian and owner Kia Joorabchian should not be forgotten. Having seen the Derby (G1) prised from their grasp only in the last half furlong by Auguste Rodin in June, it must have been sweet watching King Of Steel pounce last of all this time.
“It was a tough watch but it was a tough performance and he got a very good ride,” said Varian. “He’s got a big engine, a big set of lungs, and a big heart. It was a big effort.”
Joorabchian was not taking the possibility of King Of Steel running at the Breeders’ Cup in a fortnight’s time, or him staying in training next year, off the table after the race. The Champion Stakes winner earned a fees- and travel-paid Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T).
Frankie Dettori lifts the Champion Stakes trophy
Dettori revealed that he has been put on standby for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but when asked if he might be back in Britain should King Of Steel stay in training at four, he kept a straight bat.
“I’m focussing on my American adventure,” said the rider. “I’ve got to be there every day and I have no plans to come back at the moment.”
Who knows what the future holds but surely this could never be topped. For the time being, at least, his final ride in Britain was a masterpiece. Bravo, Frankie.
