Frankie Dettori made the announcement late last year that 2023 would be his final season on the flat racing circuit. It’s a decision that was a long time coming from the veteran jockey, who turned 52 around the same time he revealed his retirement plans to the world, and in true Dettori fashion — he isn’t going to go out on a whimper.
Following his statement, the Italian spent his winter based at Santa Anita Park in Southern California and will head to Saudi Arabia later this month for the Saudi Cup — where he will also be one of four riders partaking in the International Jockeys Challenge, which boasts a jackpot in excess of £80,000 for the winning rider.
However, the one thing Dettori is arguably looking forward to more than anything this is year is the 2023 flat racing season in Britain. The Hall of Famer has won every Group 1 contest in the UK except for the July Cup and has 20 Classic titles to his name, and he will be hoping to add to his long list of honours in his final campaign.
All that said, read on as we take a look at some of Dettori’s leading hopes in the 2023 British flat racing season.
Chaldean
Kicking things off with Chaldean, the Andrew Balding-trained horse is currently the third favourite with this horse racing betting site for the 2000 Guineas — the maiden Classic of the season, taking place at Newmarket in May — and the horse’s famed owners Juddmonte have confirmed that the ride is Dettori’s if he wants it.
The Italian’s partnership with one of the esteemed operation’s most famous horses Enable is one of the first things that comes to racing fan’s minds when they think of Dettori’s career and he would revel in the opportunity to win another Classic in those famous pink sash silks.
The 52-year-old had two rides in the son of Frankel’s saddle late last season, winning the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in December and the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes — the biggest race of the season for two-year-old’s — at Newmarket in October.
Chaldean is also currently the third favourite for the Derby, but a win in the 2000 Guineas could see him gain some more momentum in the market.
Commissioning
Dettori was aboard Commissioning for her debut win at the July Festival at Newmarket last summer, steering the Abdulla Al Khalifa-owned horse to a three-and-a-half-length win over Prepense in a Fillies’ Novice Stakes victory.
However, he missed out on the then two-year-old’s back-to-back victories later in the season due to suspension. Instead, Robert Halvin was in the saddle for the Group 2 Dubai Rockfel Stakes and Group 1 Fillies’ Mile — which was the 49-year-old jockey’s maiden top-level success.
Dettori is expected to take the reins back from his good friend Havlin this season though, and the three-year-old is currently the second favourite for both the 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks.
Kinross
Dettori enjoyed some of his best wins of last season in the saddle of Kinross, who ran eight times throughout the course of the campaign — seven of which were under the guidance of the Italian jockey.
The pair went on a four-race unbeaten streak late in the season, winning Group 2s at York and Doncaster before landing dual Group 1s in the form of the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp and the British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot’s Champions Day.
That run came to an end at the Breeders’ Cup in November, as Kinross was narrowly back in third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The duo will be reunited in some big races this coming season, however, so keep an eye out for them.
Lezoo and Quantum Cat are two more horses in the Marc Chan colours that Dettori could enjoy successes on this year.
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