Stunning Frankie Dettori four-timer sends shockwaves through betting industry
One layer joked Ascot should erect a statue of Harry Bentley after he denied Frankie Dettori a fabulous five-timer that would have left bookmakers – already reeling from the top rider’s awesome foursome – staring at disaster.
No Flat rider captures the general public’s attention as much as Dettori, who had most of Berkshire in the palm of his hand when winning the first four races on day three of the royal meeting.
They included supreme stayer Stradivarius in the Gold Cup – a result that left bookies fearing the worst.
For much of the Britannia – the fifth race on the card - it looked like more Dettori delight as he swept clear on Turgenev for his closest ally John Gosden.
However, the 7-2 favourite weakened late and was nabbed by the Ralph Beckett-trained Biometric, whose rider Bentley punched the air in triumph, an act likely repeated in trading offices.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “We suffered some significant losses on the Frankie quartet, but, even after Turgenev was cruelly defeated in the Britannia, if Questionare had won the last it would have been one of the worst three days in the history of the company.
“I’m not sure if we’ve got enough cash left in the expense budget, but hopefully the powers that be will be sending a bunch of flowers and a bottle of champers to Ralph Beckett and Harry Bentley.”
Ladbrokes were singing from the same ledger and Nicola McGeady said: “Frankie Dettori is the toast of the nation after an incredibly dramatic day at Royal Ascot. We are hugely relieved to have avoided the worst case scenario of a magnificent six, but we are by no means celebrating.
“A four-timer for the most popular jockey at the biggest meeting of the Flat season is a shocking result.”
Dettori, memorably, recorded a magnificent seven at Ascot in 1996, and Betfair were another firm to breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Barry Orr said: “The first four winners were bad results but if either of Frankie’s last two mounts had have won, all previous known losses would have paled into insignificance. That includes Cheltenham calamities such as Annie Power. “
Coral’s David Stevens added: “Twenty-three years ago Frankie Dettori cost the bookmaking industry £40 million when he rode his Magnificent Seven at Ascot, but those losses would have been dwarfed by the payout we faced if he won six out of six today, something which looked possible after Stradivarius made it four wins from four when defending his Gold Cup crown.
“It looked like it would be five out of five when Turgenev went clear in the Britannia, but Biometric has become our favourite horse of the year when spoiling the punters’ party, and Questionare’s defeat in the last meant that what was still a very bad day didn’t become a terrible day.”
Sky Bet were also petrified and Michael Shinners said: “After the first four races we were looking down the barrel of the worst day in Sky Bet history.
“The final furlong of the Britannia when Biometric reeled in Turgenev represented the biggest swing in recent memory for the bookmaking industry. Despite the final two results going our way it has still been very much a day for the punters and many of them go into tomorrow with plenty of money in their accounts.”
Star stayer Stradivarius wins second Gold Cup under imperious Dettori
Frankie Dettori completed a four-timer as Stradivarius ran out a brilliant winner of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for the second time.
Dettori sat handy on the John Gosden-trained Stradivarius throughout behind leaders Dee Ex Bee and Master Of Reality. The even-money favourite was briefly short of room as Capri kept Stradivarius in a pocket in the straight, but a gap appeared and Stradivarius displayed his class to exploit it, pulling clear of Dee Ex Bee and Master Of Reality.
It is a first four-timer at Royal Ascot for Dettori, who had earlier won on A’Ali, Sangarius and Star Catcher on Ladies’ Day. Dettori rides Turgenev and Questionare in the last two races on the card.
Dettori said: “What an amazing horse he is. He got me out of trouble, he’s a horse for the big occasion and I love him dearly and the people love him.
“I’m only nervous because the people care so much about this horse. It’s a wonderful story for Bjorn Nielsen, the stable and every time he runs, he delivers. It’s unbelievable.”
The Italian jockey is threatening to go through the card of day three of Royal Ascot, sparking memories of his Magnificent Seven at the same course in September 1996.
On the possibility of a six-timer, Dettori added: “It’s a little bit of deja vu for 96. You never know.”
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “This is absolutely horrific and if Frankie’s next two mounts win, it’s the biggest pay out we’ve ever had.”
Harry Bentley and Biometric outpoint Dettori and Turgenev in Britannia Stakes
Biometric and Harry Bentley upset the Frankie Dettori party late on when denying Turgenev close home in a thrilling finish to the Britannia Stakes.
The son of Bated Breath, the winner of two of his three starts, was held up towards the back by Bentley but made rapid headway a furlong out to deny Dettori a famous five-timer.
The winning rider said: “Frankie seemed unstoppable given the run he was on today. But I felt like I was coming with a really good run and I thought I was always going to get him.”
Trainer Ralph Beckett added: “It wasn’t the plan to be that far back but obviously they’ve gone hard and it’s all fallen into place. We were flat out at halfway, at the three-pole I thought we were going to be last – or they’d gone too hard.
“He has had a slightly unorthodox preparation as he had to have a third run to qualify and the only option I really had was a six-furlong novice event at Lingfield, hence dropping back.
“He’s always been a sleeper, he’s not a flash worker, he was a very immature two-year-old and he had an issue and he never ran. I’m absolutely thrilled.”
Dettori said: “Twenty years ago I’d have won that! I loved it. He was 16-1 this morning and went off favourite. He gave me a great spin. I’ve had a great day and I’m not going to cry!”
Frankie Dettori view vindicated as Star Catcher shines in Ribblesdale Stakes
For all the strength in your body and the delicate mastery in your hands, a brain is just as important to a jockey.
The accumulated wisdom of three decades in the saddle played a huge part in Frankie Dettori’s third victory on this day of days.
His brainwave two months earlier was probably the key factor in Star Catcher’s win in the Ribblesdale Stakes for Anthony Oppenheimer and John Gosden.
Landing a 1m2f maiden at Newbury in April which had previously fallen to future Oaks winners Eswarah and Dancing Rain immediately focuses thoughts on Epsom – particularly as the owner of Golden Horn and Cracksman had never won that Classic and would have been understandably keen to break his duck.
But Dettori knew she was not ready for that. His advice was heeded, a longer-term plan was hatched and the filly rewarded that patience.
Star Catcher took the belated step up in class in her stride, hitting the front entering the final quarter-mile and stretching out well to score by a length and a half from Fleeting – who had been beaten an almost identical margin when third in the Oaks.
An admiring Gosden was quick to recall that Newbury maiden, a race he and Dettori had won 12 months earlier with Lah Ti Dar who was Oaks favourite until she was injured.
“Star Catcher broke her maiden and Frankie got straight off and said ‘She’s in the Oaks, don’t go for the Oaks’,” the trainer said.
“He said go to the Ribblesdale, she’s not got the strength for the Oaks yet. And he was so right. This was the plan: don’t be tempted by the Oaks, wait for the Ribblesdale, and a gorgeous race it is on a big day.”
Ribblesdale Stakes: view the race replay along with the result here
A good jockey also needs the humility to admit when they get things wrong and Dettori held his hands up after finishing only third on Star Catcher when making the running in a Listed race at Newbury last month.
Gosden said: “The pace was a bit slow the other day in the Listed race at Newbury and Frankie said ‘I went too slow’. I said ‘she’ll stay, don’t worry about that, she’s run a nice trial’.”
Oppenheimer added: “Frankie said that he made a mistake and he thought she could have won. We knew she was pretty smart.”
So is her jockey. A huge Gold Cup crowd and the cowering bookmaking industry certainly think so.
fonte . RacingPost
