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Wales Online
7 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Frankie Dettori set to return to Royal Ascot for first time since bankruptcy declaration
Frankie Dettori set to return to Royal Ascot for first time since bankruptcy declaration Frankie Dettori won 81 times at the Royal meeting and topped the jockey standings at the five-day extravaganza on seven occasions, but he's not back in the saddle at Ascot this week Frankie Dettori will be watching Royal Ascot as a spectator like last year (Image: Wire Image via Getty Images ) Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori is set to return to Royal Ascot this week, albeit not in the saddle. The 54-year-old, who has ridden 81 winners at the five-day racing event and topped the leaderboard for most winners seven times, quit Britain after 35 years at the end of 2023. Despite announcing his retirement, he made a U-turn and resumed his career in the US. This month, he celebrated his biggest win since relocating, riding Raging Torrent to victory in the £1million Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga. Raging Torrent's success has contributed to Dettori's 21 wins in the US in 2025, earning him £2.3m, following a difficult start to the year when he declared bankruptcy in Britain, reports the Mirror. A petition on his behalf was filed in March after his tax arrangements were challenged by HMRC. "I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters," he said in a statement at the time. "Bankruptcy is a major decision and its consequences will affect me for many years. I am relieved to be drawing a line on this long-term matter, which enables me to reset and focus on my international riding career." Dettori attended Royal Ascot as a spectator last year and plans to do the same this year, despite feeling the pull to ride competitively again before he retires. "I won't lie to you, I do have the little devil on my shoulder that says to me, 'One more time,' but I just didn't think that this year or last year would have been appropriate," confessed Dettori in a blog for betting site Stake. Article continues below "But I will be coming over to Ascot, with a little bit of anxiety feeling that I could have rode. I did get some offers but I am not going to lie, I do miss it. I had over 80 winners, it has been a huge part of my life. It is quite hard but after a few champagnes, I get over it. I really do miss it though. It's Dettori's first time at the meeting since declaring bankruptcy (Image: Getty Images ) "I will be there this year. There is a bit of a period from now until Saratoga, I will fly over this weekend, it is my daughter's birthday and I will try and see as many kids as I can in my tribe of five, and show my face at Royal Ascot and see some old friends before I come back to Saratoga and start again. I use this opportunity to enjoy the racing and then see the family." Dettori offered his tips for the Group 1 races at Ascot this week, with the action getting underway on Tuesday and running through to Saturday. Queen Anne Stakes: "It is an amazing race. I really like Rosallion, he ran a super race last time out and I would also put in the American horse, Carl Spackler. I was second to him at Keeneland and he absolutely destroyed me. He is a horse that is improving, not a typical American horse as he is easy to handle, the occasion will not get to him. He could be a bit of a price." King Charles III Stakes: "You could name 10 contenders in this race, but I've gone with last year's winner - Asfoora. In my opinion, he stands head and shoulders above the rest. He's had a prep run and I wouldn't be surprised if he's been specifically trained for this race. It's the toughest race of the week to predict." Ascot was a happy hunting ground for the legendary jockey (Image: PA ) St James's Palace Stakes: "This is likely the best race of the week. We might see three Guineas winners competing, but I'd love to see my old boss, John Gosden, win it with Field Of Gold. I was incredibly impressed last time, he's still improving, and I reckon he'll be one of the NAPs for the week. I'd be surprised if he gets beaten." Prince of Wales's Stakes: "There are a few you could consider, but I'm going to stick with the obvious choice, Los Angeles. He has stamina, a big heart, and Ryan Moore will keep him prominent. Any horse that passes him will win, but possibly none will, because he'll put them to the test. He's a fighter too, so I'll back him." Ascot Gold Cup: "Aidan O'Brien's runner, Kyprios, is out, leaving a big gap. They're now relying on Illinois, but I'm going to stick with a horse that loves Ascot. He has stamina, he's not Stradivarius, but Trawlerman is as reliable as they come. John has trained him specifically for this race this year, so I know Trawlerman is a solid bet." Commonwealth Cup: "This is my NAP in the Group 1s of the week - Shadow Of Light. He demonstrated great speed in the Guineas, most of the good horses have gone to the St James's Palace, I reckon this leaves the door open for him to show his stuff. He could be my banker of the week, Field Of Gold would have been a bit too obvious." Dettori is backing hot favourite Field of Gold (Image: PA ) Article continues below Coronation Stakes: "This was my last Royal Ascot winner, it took me years to get it, in this race. Zarigana is my pick. She was a lucky winner of the French Guineas but she is a top class filly. Mikael Barzalona gave her too much to do and got beat but won it in the Stewards Room, but he won't make that mistake again." Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes: "I fancy Inisherin, Kevin Ryan's horse. I have chosen him, it is a wide open race, you also have to consider the Japanese horse they are raving about, you have to." Longshot of the week: "I have selected Billy Loughnane, the up and coming young jockey, he is riding the crest of a wave right now so I am going with the one he rides, Oliver Show in the Royal Hunt Cup." Banker of the week (non-Group 1): "I couldn't leave him out - Willie Mullins. His runner in the Queen Alexandra Stakes - Sober."
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Frankie Dettori returning to Royal Ascot for first time since bankruptcy
The superstar jockey, who left Britain at the end of 2023, has not given up on the prospect of riding at the meeting again before he retires from the saddle Frankie Dettori is returning to Royal Ascot this week - but he won't be riding. The superstar jockey rode 81 winners at the five-day racing extravaganza and topped the leaderboard for most winners at the fixture seven times. The 54-year-old quit Britain after 35 years at the end of 2023, u-turning on an announced retirement to pick up his career again in the US. He has continued to enjoy success across the Atlantic and this month landed his richest win since his relocation when riding Raging Torrent to victory in the £1 million Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga. Raging Torrent has helped Dettori to 21 wins in the US in 2025 for earnings of £2.3m in the wake of a challenging start to the year when he had to declare bankruptcy in Britain. A petition on behalf of the jockey was filed in March after his tax arrangements were challenged by HMRC 'I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters,' he said in a statement at the time. 'Bankruptcy is a major decision and its consequences will affect me for many years. I am relieved to be drawing a line on this long-term matter, which enables me to reset and focus on my international riding career.' Dettori attended Royal Ascot 12 months ago as a spectator and he will do the same this year despite an urge to ride competitively again before he retires. 'I won't lie to you, I do have the little devil on my shoulder that says to me 'one more time' but I just didn't think that this year or last year would have been appropriate,' said Dettori in a blog for betting site Stake. 'But I will be coming over to Ascot, with a little bit of anxiety feeling that I could have rode.' He continued: 'I did get some offers but I am not going to lie, I do miss it. I had over 80 winners, it has been a huge part of my life. It is quite hard but after a few champagnes, I get over it. I really do miss it though. 'I will be there this year. There is a bit of a period from now until Saratoga, I will fly over this weekend, it is my daughter's birthday and I will try and see as many kids as I can in my tribe of five, and show my face at Royal Ascot and see some old friends before I come back to Saratoga and start again. I use this opportunity to enjoy the racing and then see the family.'
New York Post
08-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
St. John's donor Mike Repole and Rick Pitino horses strike out at Belmont Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mike Repole walked downstairs from his first-row clubhouse VIP box at Saratoga and conferred with jockey John Velazquez on the edge of the winner's circle after Saturday's eighth race at Saratoga. The billionaire entrepreneur and St. John's basketball benefactor did not step inside. It was not his time. His horse, Fierceness, the winner of the 2024 Travers Stakes, the signature summer event at this historic track, finished second by 2 ¹/₂ lengths to California invader Raging Torrent in the $1 million Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. While the 8-1 Raging Torrent earned an automatic bid to this fall's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher were left to pick up the pieces. 'If you told me he'd finish ahead of White Abarrio and Just a Touch, I'd [believe I'd] be taking my picture in the winner's circle,' Repole told The Post. 'You know, it happens. We knew [Raging Torrent] was going to go for the lead. He got brave. I thought at the 3/8ths pole we had him, the quarter pole we had him. And then I saw him open up and, you know, I don't know. 'It was a tough, tough race and a tough, tough loss,' Repole said, 'and there's absolutely no excuse.' Raging Torrent's jockey, Frankie Dettori, praised his horse's will to win. 'At the quarter pole, I was in the lap of gods,' the 54-year-old Italian rider said. 'He showed great determination to get to the line. 3 Raging Torrent races past Fierceness to the finish line to win the Metropolitan Handicap on Belmon Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course on June 7, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST 'He puts his head down, even when [Fierceness] pressured me [and he fought really hard.' Fierceness, the sub-even-money favorite, got into trouble immediately breaking out of the Wilson chute, which sends horses directly into the middle of the first turn. 'Johnny [Velazquez] said he broke so sharply he kind of hit the gate and came back with some blood on his mouth from hitting the gate at the start,' Pletcher said. 'The first 16th of a mile was pretty rough. They were bouncing around trying to get position. After that he got into the exact position we wanted to, he just couldn't get by the horse in the lead.' 3 St. John's Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino speaks with the media before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Bronx, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST Repole said Fierceness likely will be targeted for the $1 million Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 2 at Saratoga. In the 10th race, A.P. Kid, ridden by Velazquez and trained by Pletcher, ran past the leader at the top of the stretch and pulled away by five widening lengths. Repole and his contingent of 80 family and friends later watched long shot Uncaged finish out of the money in the Belmont Stakes. 3 Mike Repole watches his horse, Fierceness, finish second in the Metropolitan Handicap on Belmont Stakes day. Jason Szenes / New York Post Repole wasn't the only owner with St. John's connections to enter a horse on Belmont Stakes Day. Coach Rick Pitino's RAP Racing took a fourth place in the fifth race with Aggelos the Great. Pitino was not in attendance but told The Post in a text: 'We're disappointed. We all thought he was ready to win. But, you know, [it's] horse racing.' Pitino said he was told by jockey Manny Franco the horse did not like the muddy conditions.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
White Abarrio Stretches Legs At Saratoga With Eye Toward Met Mile
C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable's multiple Grade 1 winner White Abarrio reacquainted himself with the Saratoga Race Course main track Friday, posting a half-mile breeze in 49.27 seconds in company with New York-bred Bustin Bullet for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. 'He went a half from the three-eighths and he galloped out five-eighths, which was a little more than he should have, but we just wanted him to stretch his legs over the surface,' Joseph said. 'So far, so good.' Advertisement The 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner arrived in Saratoga last Saturday from Gulfstream Park, where he drilled a five-furlong bullet in 59.20 on May 7. The 6-year-old son of Race Day is undefeated this year, boasting scores in Gulfstream's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup in January and the Grade 3 Ghostzapper last out on March 29 with a 5 1/4-length tour de force. White Abarrio, who captured the 2023 Grade 1 Whitney at the Spa, is searching for an elusive win in the $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 7 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, a 'Win and You're In' for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar. White Abarrio finished third in the 2023 Met Mile and fifth in last year's running, both while in the barn of Rick Dutrow Jr. Joseph said White Abarrio will continue to do his training over the Saratoga main track in the coming weeks. 'He'll have two more breezes, and next week he'll have a pretty serious breeze between Thursday and Saturday,' Joseph, Jr. said. Advertisement Joseph has a handful of other prospects for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, including recent Grade 3 Vagrancy runner-up R Disaster, who was a neck back of stablemate Haulin Ice in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares on May 4 at Belmont at the Big A. Campaigned by Averill Racing, Two Eight Racing and Anthony Mattera, the daughter of Awesome Slew could target the Grade 2, $300,000 Bed o' Roses on June 6. 'She's pointed there, and there is a possibility she could go somewhere else, but right now that's the race we're targeting,' Joseph, Jr. said. C2 Racing, Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch's Indy Bay, who also worked a half-mile in :50.05 Friday over the Spa main track, is pointing to the $150,000 Jersey Girl, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, on June 8. The consistent daughter of Take Charge Indy has never been off the board in four starts, including back-to-back wins at Gulfstream in her first two starts for Joseph, Jr. with a tidy third-out graduation in March and a gritty three-quarter-length optional claiming win on April 25.
