Frankie Dettori favourite to win SPOTY as jockey, 52, roars ‘this is MENTAL’ ahead of last ever Epsom Derby ride
THE nation has been swept up in Frankie Fever as punters pile into Dettori’s horse for his last ever Epsom Derby.
Dettori, 52, a dad of five, enjoyed a dream double including winning the Oaks on Soul Sister on Friday.
Now he is being backed off the boards to win the world’s most prestigious race – and scoop the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award too!
Dettori has overtaken England cricket hero Ben Stokes as 4-1 favourite for the TV gong with William Hill.
Should Dettori claim Saturday’s Derby and go onto bag the BBC trophy then he would become the second jockey after AP McCoy in 2010 to win.
In a league of his own on the racecourse, Dettori would also become the oldest SPOTY winner by eight years, smashing a record that has stood since 1957.
The world’s most famous rider roared ‘this is mental!’ after his Group 1 double on the Downs.
He will ride the John Gosden-trained Arrest at 1.30pm on Saturday.
The three-year-old colt has already been smashed in from 6-1 to 3-1 favourite with Paddy Power.
Spokesman Paul Binfield said: “Earlier in the week I thought Auguste Rodin was a shoo-in to go off favourite for the Blue Riband.
“But after the Oaks weight of money forced Arrest to the front of the market and he could now go off favourite.
“Casual punters who enjoy a flutter on the Derby will open their papers tomorrow and see what amazing form Frankie is in and as he is the most recognisable flat jockey in the country.
“They’ll be backing him in their droves.”
Punters will be desperate to see one more famous flying dismount from Dettori in a race he won twice before in 2007 and 2015.
But bookie bean counters will be sweating with memories of his famous Magnificent Seven at Ascot in 1996 still giving them nightmares.
Speaking after his Oaks heroics on Friday, Dettori beamed: “This is mental!
“I’ll be honest with you. I had rides in three Group 1s, three good rides, so to have two in the bag with one to go is crazy. I’m stuck for words!
“I can’t believe I won another Oaks.
“You get given this small tree as a prize for winning the Oaks. The last tree I got my dog ripped it up, so now I get another!
“At the moment, things are going so well so I’m not thinking about doing a U-turn on retirement.
“But you can easily mess up. Five months until my final ride is a long time.
“I wish there was more rain for Arrest but he is a good horse and deserves a good chance.
“The way John’s horses and running, anything is possible.”