FRANKIE DETTORI has confirmed he will be back at Royal Ascot next month – with rumours swirling he could pick up a huge ride for his old boss.
Dettori posted on X this week saying he will return to the Royal racecourse some eight months after his retirement U-turn.
The world’s most famous jockey went out with an almighty bang on his final ride at the track, coming from last to first on King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes.
But, as yet, there’s nothing concrete to suggest he’ll be jumping in the saddle for another spin during the biggest week of Flat racing all year.
In fact, he’ll be helping out in the kitchen.
Dettori posted: “Wow! I’m back at #RoyalAscot this summer – supporting my good friend and one of the world’s best Italian chefs Frances Comazzei at restaurant #Numero7.
“Experience fantastic dining in the Royal Enclosure, overlooking the historic Old Paddock.
“Perfectly positioned near the track, you’ll be right in the heart of the action.”
Dettori has had a blast riding in the US, including landing one punter over £100,000 with a 77,000-1 six-timer at Santa Anita.
But he failed to achieve his lifelong dream of winning the Kentucky Derby, finishing 16th on 47-1 outsider Society Man.
Dettori and iconic trainer John Gosden were labelled racing’s ‘greatest double act’ during their years in Britain and all over the world together.
But they briefly split after Dettori endured an awful Royal Ascot two years ago with Gosden, who now trains alongside son Thady, saying the Italian needed to be ‘less part-time’.
Fast-forward 12 months and they were back in the winners’ enclosure at the big meeting thanks to the likes of Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami.
Bookies Betfair went just 1-8 that Dettori would ride at this year’s Ascot.
And in that time the Gosdens have made Kieran Shoemark their No1 rider in all but name.
Dettori left almost impossibly big boots to fill but Shoemark has had an up-and-down time taking over.
Amid some encouraging wins was the disastrous last-place finish on 8-11 fav Friendly Soul in the Musidora at York.
While Inspiral, who by her own trainer’s admission needed the run, was beaten 13 lengths in fourth in the Lockinge after being sent off 2-1 fav.
Dettori loved Inspiral and steered her to eight of her nine victories.
Some punters have speculated whether Dettori’s presence at Royal Ascot could lead to Gosden at least considering giving him the ride back on the magical mare.
Especially after Gosden said after her Breeders’ Cup win last November: “I’ve already told him he can ride her.
“Lots of American jockeys come over for Royal Ascot each year so why not Frankie.”
She is 11-2 fav for the Queen Anne Stakes and 8-1 for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
While the ever-growing Amo Racing operation have always used Dettori in the past and could opt to use him on one of their spares.
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