Frankie Dettori to ride at Irish Champions Festival this weekend for the final time
Thursday, September 07, 2023
| Racing and sports fans will have an opportunity to see Frankie Dettori ride in Ireland for the final time this weekend when he takes to the saddle on Saturday at Leopardstown and Sunday at the Curragh as part of Irish Champions Festival. Frankie is booked to ride the French-trained Onesto in Leopardstown’s showpiece on Saturday, the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and at the Curragh on Sunday, where he rides Porta Fortuna for Donnacha O’Brien in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. The superstar jockey announced last year that 2023 would be his final year in the saddle. Among his many Irish winners, the Italian jockey has won multiple Irish Classics: Irish Derby on Balanchine in 1994 Irish Oaks: 4 wins - Lailani 2001, Vintage Tipple 2003, Blue Bunting 2011 and Star Catcher 2019 Irish 2000 Guineas: 2 wins - Bachir 2000 and Dubawi 2005 Irish St Leger: 2 wins - Kayf Tara 1999 and Wicklow Brave 2016 Frankie has also ridden 10 Group One winners in Ireland: Irish Champion Stakes: 6 wins – Swain 1998, Daylami 1999, Fantastic Light 2001, Grandera 2002, Snow Fairy 2012 and Golden Horn 2015 National Stakes – Dubawi (2004) Tattersalls Gold Cup – Fantastic Light (2001) Keeneland Phoenix Stakes – Pips Pride (1992 at Leopardstown) and Advertise (2018 at the Curragh) Frankie won The Pretty Polly Stakes in 1994 on Del Deya (was a Group 2 race at that time) and Daylami to win the 1998 Tattersalls Gold Cup (also a Group 2 at that time). Both races have since been upgraded to Group 1 status. |
Racing and sports fans will have an opportunity to see Frankie Dettori ride in Ireland for the final time this weekend when he takes to the saddle on Saturday at Leopardstown and Sunday at the Curragh as part of Irish Champions Festival.
