FRANKIE DETTORI is set to get the ride on King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes at Ascot – on his final ever day racing in Britain.
Dettori will bring the curtain down on his 36-year career on home soil at the site of his famous Magnificent Seven.
GettyJoorabchian is set to turn to Dettori for the plum ride on King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes at Ascot later this month[/caption]
And he could go out on a high after being picked by Kia Joorabchian to ride his Derby runner-up.
Dettori, who rides hot favourite Inspiral in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket on Saturday, will fill the void left by Kevin Stott, temporarily, at least.
Sun Racing told you football superagent Joorabchian cut ties with ex-retained rider Stott due to ‘reasons outside racing’ last month.
Stott was in the saddle when King Of Steel was second to Auguste Rodin at 66-1 in the world’s most famous Flat race.
And he steered the three-year-old Amo Racing stable star to Group 2 victory at Royal Ascot later that month.
But it is Dettori who Joorabchian will almost certainly turn to on Champions Day, with King Of Steel currently a best-price 6-1 to land the £740,000 first-place prize.
Dettori, who Joorabchian considers a ‘big friend’, has previously raced in the purple Amo silks.
They teamed up to come second in the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville in August last year with Persian Force.
And their association goes back to 2019 when Dettori rode Maxi Boy in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes over the July Course at Newmarket.
Joorbachian told Sun Racing: “Frankie is a big friend and has ridden Amo horses for years.
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“I love the Breeders’ Cup and the Classic is a dream, it’s a race I have on my mind.
“But Champions Day will also be a phenomenal day and Ascot is the most special place for us.
“I will talk to Roger Varian next week and we will make a collective decision.”
King Of Steel followed up his Royal meeting win with a third-place finish in the King George.
Returned to 1m2f, the colt finished a length fourth behind his Derby conqueror Auguste Rodin when last seen in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown a month ago.
Joorabchian is looking for a new No1 jockey after getting rid of Stott.
Rumours have been circulating as to who could replace him – with whispers a mega-money retainer could see Dettori return for only the biggest rides.
The Italian, who after Ascot is set to race in the US, Australia, Hong Kong and possibly Japan as part of his global farewell tour, has said only a ‘stupid’ offer would make him reconsider retirement.
Dettori has also been lined up for a spot on the I’m A Celeb.
But no one rides Ascot better than Dettori so, if successful, don’t be surprised if this is the start of something big.
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