Frankie Dettori Interview: Royal Ascot Exclusive

It’s arguably the biggest week of the horse racing calendar globally, so we caught up with our Global Horse Racing Ambassador Frankie Dettori, to hear about his experience at the meeting and to help pick out a few winners across what promises to be an incredible week. With horses from USA, Australia, Japan, France, UK, Ireland and Spain set to run, this truly is a spectacle not to be missed and Stake.com will have promotions to help you enjoy the action every day.

Read on to see what the world greatest jockey had to say as you place your bets on the upcoming horse racing events here on Stake Sportsbook.

For more of his daily picks, be sure to stay up to date with Frankie on Socials !

How would you sum up and describe Royal Ascot?

It is our Olympics. It is the best that racing provides to the general public, it only comes around once a year, and attracts interest from all over the world, not just in England and Europe.

There are Australians, Americans and Japanese as well. This is what people get involved in racing for, they want to have a horse that is good enough to go to royal ascot.

The Royal Family play a big part, the dressing up, the creme de la creme of horse racing to boot as well. It is a range of five days of extraordinary racing for everybody to get their teeth into.

Was it always front and centre of your mind every year as soon as the season started?

It is, but not just for me, it is the same for most of the trainers and owners too. The Derby is one race, for example, and you know if you have a horse good enough, but then everything else in the stable, you have to work out and figure out who is going where and how you prepare for each race. Basically as soon as March, the serious work starts, you focus on Royal Ascot and deliver for the owners, they want to be a part of it. Everybody has the same mindset.

It comes early in the season, it is in the middle of June, but everybody’s target is always Royal Ascot, especially the superpower yards, they have the bigger numbers but their focus is the Classics and Royal Ascot.

Are you concerned that the superpower yards such as Godolphin and Coolmore are too dominant?

They invest a lot, at the present moment they have the best stallions so they have a big advantage. It is years of investing and creating the ultimate racehorse, they deserve the success. They won’t win everything, they might get some, but there is plenty there for everyone to get stuck in.

It has been this way for years. They have the firepower, and good luck to them. They put millions into the sport. Sometimes you get the odd small owner that invested a few thousands and competes with those spending millions - this is why racing is fascinating. It doesn't matter how much money you spend, you can still get a decent horse and have fun with it.

You don’t say ‘let’s not like Man City’, for example, because they spend so much money and were dominant for six years, they are not any more. It does go around.

Where would the sport be without that foreign investment?

We always said that but there is always someone else that comes along. There will always be someone in horse racing that will take over but they are the main superpowers now with Juddmonte and Chevely Park.

Japan - are they the next super power?

They could be. I’m not going to say lucky for us because it is great they are coming over, but they are very much focusing on the Asian side. It’s quite a trek for them to come over here but they have a nice sprinter coming over on Saturday in Satono Reve.

But, every time they send a horse to the Middle East, they are pulverising most of the races and they are also shipping horses to Australia, they are very solid. It is 30 or 40 years of investment in their stud programme, they are very very competitive in the world.

Does he have a chance in the Jubilee?

The sprinting division is wide open this year, there is no Black Caviar so I wouldn't be surprised at all if he ran a big race on Saturday.

How have you adapted to being a spectator at Royal Ascot instead of a jockey?

I won’t lie to you, I do have the little devil on my shoulder that says to me “one more time” but I just didn’t think that this year or last year would have been appropriate. But I will be coming over to Ascot, with a little bit of anxiety feeling that I could have rode.

I did get some offers but I am not going to lie, I do miss it. I had over 80 winners, it has been a huge part of my life. It is quite hard but after a few champagnes, I get over it. I really do miss it though.

I will be there this year. There is a bit of a period from now until Saratoga, I will fly over this weekend, it is my daughter’s birthday and I will try and see as many kids as I can in my tribe of five, and show my face at Royal Ascot and see some old friends before I come back to Saratoga and start again. I use this opportunity to enjoy the racing and then see the family.

How do international runners have to adapt when they come over to run at Royal Ascot?

It is completely different for them. Wesley Ward’s horses for example, they have been training from day dot to run a turn and they find it hard to adapt to running straight, they are waiting for a turn that doesn’t come.

Then again, you get the odd ones that are clever enough to work it out. A lot of horses do come over to Ascot and it is difficult for that reason, they haven’t got a bend to negotiate. I remember five years ago when California Chrome, Kentucky Derby winner, came to Ascot and I was asked to gallop him at Ascot and he was absolutely no good. He had spent three years going left and then you asked him to go right and uphill and he couldn’t do it. I advised them not to run him as it would have been embarrassing.

It is great for them to try but it is not a foregone conclusion that they will adapt to it.

Royals are the biggest attraction - what was The Queen like?

All the rich people there have their horses for fun and maybe to make a bit of money to keep the operation going but really, all they wanted was to win a big race at Royal Ascot and get a trophy from The Queen. That is everything and all it comes down to, and they pay millions to get to that position.

In the past, The Queen never missed a meeting, was very accessible and I was very lucky to meet her for 30 years but now we have The King. I had a great opportunity to be at Windsor Castle before racing (last year’s Royal Ascot), he was very lucky as well. In his first year as a monarch he had a winner so he got the bug! Royal Ascot wouldn't be Royal if they were not there, him enjoying it and being present is great for my sport.

Are you tempted to go to Hong Kong?

I have been asked a few times to go over. It is a young man's game if you go to Hong Kong, I am very happy in America. I have no plans, I might end up there for the International but no plans right now.

Willie Mullins - would you like to ride for him again?

Vauban, he won at Royal Ascot then went to Melbourne, one I rode was Audience, he’s had Absurde in the Ebor, he always comes up with the goods. He has a bunch this week, but I think Sober is his best one.

I almost won the Melbourne Cup for him. His horses are super well-trained and he is very competitive, the results speak for themselves. He is as good on the flat and over the jumps.

Best US jockey you have raced out there?

Obviously you have to go with Irad Ortiz, Flavien (Prat) is the best all-rounder on turf and dirt. Then you have to consider the old boys, myself, Mike Smith, Jonny Velazquez, we are still here! They are very competitive, I can’t single one out. They don’t give you an inch. It is a lot sharper, more speed orientated but I am having fun.

Have you had to change your riding style?

I had to change everything completely. Luckily I had four winters in California when I was a teenager so I had the foundation. You have to be super quick out of the gates, most races are 12 runners so the draw is a big part, you can easily overdo it at the front or give yourself too much to do. You can lose the race in a flash, in Europe the races are a bit of a slower pace and you can recover from a mistake.

One jockey who could match your Magnificent Seven?

You obviously need a jockey that rides all the races and gets the best horse so at the moment you would have to say Oisin Murphy. He has a full card at every meeting, if there is one jockey who could get close it is him.

Frankie Dettori’s Royal Ascot Tips

Queen Anne Stakes

It is an amazing race. I really like Rosallion, he ran a super race last time out and I would also put in the American horse, Carl Spackler. I was second to him at Keeneland and he absolutely destroyed me. He is a horse that is improving, not a typical American horse as he is easy to handle, the occasion will not get to him. He could be a bit of a price.

King Charles III Stakes

You can name ten in here but I have gone quite boring with last year’s winner - Asfoora. I think she is head and shoulders above, she has had a prep run and would not be surprised if she hasn’t been trained right for this race. It’s the hardest race of the week to pick.

St James’s Palace Stakes

This is probably the best race of the week. There are possibly three Guineas winners turning up but I would like to see my old boss win it (John Gosden) with Field Of Gold and I think he will. I was super impressed last time, he is still on the way up, I would say he will be one of NAPs for the week and I’ll be surprised if he gets turned over.

Prince Of Wales Stakes

There are a few you can put in but I am going to stick with the obvious one, Los Angeles. He stays well, has a big heart, Ryan Moore will have him prominent and whatever horse passes him will win, but possibly none will, because he will put them to the sword. He battles too so I’ll go with him.

Ascot Gold Cup

Aidan O’Brien’s runner, Kyprios, is out and has left a big hold, they are relying on Illinois now but I am going to stick with a horse that loves Ascot, he stays, he’s not Stradavarious but Trawlerman is as solid as a rock. John trained him for this race this year, you know Trawlerman is solid so I’ll go with him.

Commonwealth Cup

This is my NAP in the Group 1s of the week - Shadow Of Light. He showed great speed in the Guineas, most of the good horses have gone to the St James’s Palace,I think this leaves the door open for him to show his stuff. He could be my banker of the week, Field Of Gold would have been a bit too obvious.

Coronation Cup

This my last Royal Ascot winner, it took me years to get it, in this race. Zarigana is my pick. She was a lucky winner of the French Guineas but she is a top class filly. Mikael Barzalona gave her too much to do and got beat but won it in the Stewards Room, but he won’t make that mistake again.

Jubilee Stakes

I like Inisherin, Kevin Ryan’s horse. I have gone for him, it is a wide open race, you also have to chuck in the Japanese horse they are raving about, you have to.

Longshot of the week

I have gone with Billy Loughnane, the up and coming young jockey, he is riding the crest of a wave right now so I am going with the one he rides, Oliver Show in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Banker of the week (non-Group 1)

I couldn't leave him out - Willie Mullins. His runner in the Queen Alexandra Stakes - Sober.