Will thirteen be lucky for Frankie
It is incredible to think that Frankie Dettori, the rider who has broken down barriers and taken racing to the wider public, has yet to win the world’s most famous race.
But the ever-popular Italian will be hoping 13 is his lucky number when he goes into battle with Dubawi in the Vodafone Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
He has come within touching distance of the holy grail on more than one occasion in the past but yearns more than ever to put the big one on his glittering resume.
A youthful Dettori had his first Epsom mount on John Gosden’s Pollen Count back in 1992 when the horse was sent off a 14-1 chance and finished a distant 38 lengths behind Dr Devious in 16th place.
Rides on the American-trained Wolf Prince and Linney Head the following two years proved equally unfruitful but Dettori came close when second on Gosden’s Tamure in 1995.
The Italian took it up coming into the final furlong only for the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Lammtarra to weave his way through and accelerate away to win by a length.
It was a case of close but no cigar again the following year as subsequent St Leger winner Shantou was third behind Shaamit, who must go down as one of the worst Derby winners in history.
Dettori’s subsequent association with Godolphin has been phenomenal the world over but has yet to yield any success from seven rides in the Derby over the last eight years.
Hopes were high that the brilliant filly Cape Verdi could pull of a fairytale success in 1998, while 2000 Guineas runner-up Snow Ridge was reckoned to be his best ever chance 12 months ago.
But it was not to be and the best Dettori has managed for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation is third with Tobougg four years ago.
If Dubawi is to break the Derby duck, he will not only have to defy those statistics but also the weight of history.
Dubawi’s sire Dubai Millennium was an amazing racehorse who amassed nearly £3million in prize money and suffered just one defeat in 10 starts.
However, that sole loss came in the 1999 Derby when he was beaten into ninth by Oath after failing to stay the unique course and with little more stamina on the dam’s side, his ability to get the trip must be questioned.
For all it will be Dettori’s 13th ride in the race, he still has a long way to go before he equals the great Sir Gordon Richards’ run of bad luck.
He endured 27 failed attempts on the Epsom prize before finally coming good on Pinza in 1953 in what was to be his last ride in the race.
Dettori will be praying he doesn’t have to wait that long.
