Dettori returns with treble
Frankie Dettori may be handing over the jockeys’ championship to Jamie Spencer but the popular Italian showed his appetite for winners is as strong as ever with a 24-1 treble at Nottingham.
He wasted no time in getting back amongst the winner with victory on his first rides back in England after a fruitless Breeders’ Cup meeting in New York last weekend.
Dettori raised his whip in triumph and screamed “yes” as the treble was confirmed when the judge announced a dead-heat between his mount Economic (4-5) and Reg Hollinshead’s Stravara (5-1) in division two of the Barbara Wilkinson Retirement From Wilkinson Maiden Stakes.
“It’s a fair track and level. It’s a good place to introduce horses and we have had a lot of nice horses here including Dubai Destination,” said Dettori after Economic’s pillar-to-post romp.
Ecomonic just had enough left in the tank to share the spoils on his second racecourse appearance while Reunite (11-4) made a winning debut in division one.
The half-sister to French Derby victor Anabaa Blue stayed on strongly to beat Zurbaran by half a length while Godolphin’s second string, Rebellion, finished back in third.
“She was a backward filly and has taken a lot of time to come to hand which is why we wanted to give her a spin on the race track,” said Godolphin’s representative, William Balding.
“She holds an entry in the Derby as she has one of the best pedigrees around.
“She’s a lovely filly, she’s been well looked after and we thought we’d give her one run now. She has a lot of growing to do. She handled the ground great but all the family do.”
Dettori had earlier brought Lipizza (13-2) with a late flourish to capture the Season Finale Lunch Nursery.
“We stepped her back in trip today as she’s not quite lasted home over six and seven furlongs,” said Simon Callaghan, assistant to his father Neville.
“I think five or six will be her trip next year. She’s a progressive filly and a big filly who has taken a bit of time to come to hand.”
Dettori was denied a four-timer when Subpoena went down by three lengths to the Sheikh Mohammed-owned Chrysander, the 8-11 favourite, in the Racing UK Conditions Stakes.
“I think he is off to Dubai for the winter. It’s nice to go out on a winning note,” said trainer Mick Channon’s representative, Lesley White.
“He’s a lazy horse so the pace suited us. He was off the bridle early and rallied on.”
Parnassian (13-2) continued Jonathan Geake’s fine recent run by winning the Letheby & Christopher Stable Staff Series Handicap under Steve Drowne, grimly holding 100-1 shot Muntami by half a length.
“We’ve been waiting for this ground all season. It’s been firm, firm and firm so he’s come down the ratings,” said Geake’s assistant, Samantha Newby-Vincent.
John Wainwright on the other hand will be pleased to see the end of a poor season after Time To Regret (11-1) took the See You In 2006 Handicap.
“I’ve got a couple running on the turf at the end of the week and I might run him over hurdles in about 10 days and then go on a well-deserved holiday,” said Wainwright.
“I’ve had a disastrous season. Then I’ll come back and start again.”
Pearly Poll, runner-up on her debut at Nottingham five weeks earlier, went one better in division one of the Colwick Park Maiden Stakes.
While Haifa, wearing the colours of owner Graeme Waters that were carried by Spindrifter to 13 two-year-old victories, claimed division two.
