NOBODY expected effervescent jockey Frankie Dettori to slope off into retirement quietly, but announcing a complete U-turn on his decision to hang up his silks certainly caught the world by surprise.
“I’m simply not ready,” he told us, and who can blame him?
During his well-publicised farewell tour of 2023, he won the 2000 Guineas on Chaldean, the Oaks with Soul Sister, the Ascot Gold Cup on Courage Mon Ami and a winning double on Champions Day in October brought down the final curtain on his British racing career. Reaching his 50s has clearly not weathered any of the Italian’s natural brilliance in the saddle and if anything, the past 12 months marked something of a resurgence in the Italian-born jockey’s fortunes.
A crescendo of adoration followed him at every racecourse as he unveiled statues and other tributes, fans jostling for
