Flying Frankie eyes perfect Dubai swansong

Flying Frankie eyes perfect Dubai swansong

The legendary Italian jockey is looking to win his fifth Dubai World Cup race

Frankie Dettori celebrates after guiding Country Grammer to victory in the Dubai World Cup last year. — Reuters

Published: Thu 23 Mar 2023, 5:53 PM Last updated: Thu 23 Mar 2023, 5:54 PM

He has enjoyed some of his biggest successes in Dubai and now Lanfranco Dettori, better known as Frankie to the racing world, returns to his favourite hunting ground on Saturday for one final hurray when he rides the defending champion Country Grammer in the 27th $12 million Dubai World Cup.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest jockeys ever to grace the Sport of Kings, Dettori is the joint leading rider in the iconic race with four wins, a record he shares with American Hall of Fame jockey, Jerry Bailey.

For those who seek Dettori’s legacy in the future, they need to look no further than the history books that attempt to document the incomparable Italian’s greatest accomplishments.

Lord North with jockey Frankie Dettori wins $4 million Group 1 Dubai Turf in the Dubai World Cup night on March 27, 2021. — AP

Like more jockeys in the sport, Dettori is by no means a big man, standing all of