When you think about flat racing, it’s hard to picture anyone but Frankie Dettori. Now 50 years of age, Dettori is still one of the kingpins of racing, and his recent record win in the Oaks — the sixth of his career — proved that he is a man for whom age is merely a number. With the return of spectators to Epsom, albeit in a limited capacity, it was fitting that Dettori produced a performance worthy of their applause.
In driving Surrey rain, Snowfall was the horse who carried Dettori to the memorable victory, bringing glory too for trainer Aidan O’Brien, a man who has become used to such victories in the British Classics. Snowfall’s stablemate Divinely finished in third, while Mystery Angel and jockey Ben Curtis were the next closest to Dettori, but in the end it was a straight-forward victory for the 11/2 shot in the horse racing betting.
“Four out I had everything beat,” Dettori reflected on his triumph. “I looked in front and they were all gone. I took my goggles down and thought ‘don’t be clever’ and I just cut through the middle — it was like a hot knife through butter. I knew I was at least eight lengths in front. It was quite remarkable because I pulled up by the stables and everybody else pulled up by the winning post! I’ve won many Classics, but none as easy as this one.”
In many ways, it was the kind of performance to define Dettori’s brilliance. A breezy, effortless win, with the smoothness of the display contrasting the driving rain which fell and the thick cloud that hung heavy overhead. The conditions seemed to suggest a close race would be in store, but Dettori and Snowfall were on another level.
Praise must also go to trainer O’Brien, who simply has flat racing under his foot at the moment. It seems that the man can do no wrong, and Snowfall is just one of countless examples of horses that he has turned into supreme winning machines. There is no-one quite like him in the sport, and the Oaks triumph is just as much his as Dettori’s.
Indeed, there are few partnerships as formidable in any sport as O’Brien and Dettori — the blend of expert training experience in O’Brien with the flair, showmanship and riding talent of Dettori. The Italian continues to defy the assumptions that his ability will soon be on the wane, and this latest victory was another hammer blow to his doubters.
The pair are already pondering what is next for Snowfall, the horse who brought them this recent joint success. O’Brien can certainly be trusted to make the right decision, and with so much talent coursing through the three-year-old filly, it would be no surprise to see them really go for it.
Following the win at Epsom, the trainer said: “I was talking to Frankie afterwards and we were thinking of the Irish Oaks, but he said, ‘don’t be afraid to take on the older horses with this filly and don’t be afraid to do it early if you want’. There’s every chance that she could end up in the Arc and that (King George) could be a possibility. She has plenty of pace, but she stayed the mile and a half well — as she goes up in trip, the more impressive she’s becoming.”
Similar can be said of Dettori, a jockey of distinct vintage now, but none the worse for it.
