Frankie Dettori pictured with the Queen in July 1999. Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Stakes By PA/Neil Munns
Everyone expects me to go through a lot of handkerchiefs as this is my last Royal Ascot as a jockey, but just like the Derby, I'm feeling rather cold and impatient waiting for this. Let's go.
Ascot, and not just the royal meeting, has been a very special place for me throughout my career and it would be great if it continued until October, when I will have my last trips. in this country on British Champions Day.
My earliest memory of Ascot is that I had just arrived in Newmarket as a student of Luka Cumani in my «moped days». You would have seen the truck leave, heading to Royal Ascot first thing in the morning, and you could feel the rumble that spread throughout the yard. I didn't think then that it would become almost a second home to me.
My first ride at the royal assembly was on a horse named Merle in the 1987 Huntsman's Cup — I rode with a weight of 7 6 pounds, which was 1 pound overweight and I struggled to gain weight.
My first winner was Markofdistinction in the Queen Anne Stakes, the second group back then in 1990. He changed the rules of the game for me. He gave me my first listing win, first group 2 and first group 1 when he returned to Ascot for QEII. He had a big leg turn and was still last with three furlongs to run at Queen Anne. He was hot on the heels of the leaders for two outs and a gap opened up on a furlong pole on the rail and he pretty much won hands and heels.
Dettori (right) leads Pat Addery to victory in the stakes of Queen Elizabeth II in 1990. Photo: PA Photos
At the time, I never thought I would meet Queen Elizabeth, but I rode for her for 30 years and won the Ribblesdale Stakes with her Phantom Gold filly in 1995. I first met her a year before when I was skating for her. head coach, Ian Balding, and just seeing royal silks hanging on your hanger was a real thrill.
Before the race on the first day, her racing manager Lord Canarvon came into the weigh-in room and said, «Boy, do you know how to address the queen?» He then explained that you raised your hat, bowed, and called her «Your Majesty,» «but don't speak until she does. Then you end what you say with «ma'am».
I'm petrified. On the first day I lifted my hat, bowed, did everything right, and she said nothing. I thought it didn't go too well. But on the second day we moved on to tactics, and on the third day we talked about the Golden Cup. On the last day, I was walking with two other jockeys, chatting about cars and women. There was no usual fuss around the queen, but she was two steps away from me.
It took me by surprise and I asked, «How are you?» in my worst cockney. I think she had fun, but Lord Carnarvon kicked me in the shin!
I had 77 winners at the meeting and I can't remember half of them. Ironically, it's the three years I missed that I remember almost better. In 1996 I broke my elbow, which meant that I didn't manage to win the Gold Cup on the Classical Cliché. I missed the meeting in 2000 after the plane crash when Dubai Millennium won the Prince of Wales Prize and again in 2017 due to a shoulder injury when Lady Aurelia, Big Orange, Coronet and Stradivarius won without me.
One my best memory was two years later when I won the first four races on Thursday with A'Ali, Sangarius, Star Catcher and Stradivarius. When Turgenev took the lead two furlongs in Race 5, Britain, the roar of the crowd was over the top — I've never heard anything like it, but he wore himself out in the last 50 yards.
I'm not going to catch Lester Piggott, who rode 116 winners at Royal Ascot when it was a four-day meeting and there were only six races a day. He was just a genius. But I would be very happy if I could round it up to 80 by the end of the week and hold my nose to Ryan Moore, who is 73.
There would be something to ride the first Ascot winner for the King and Queen, and I have two chances to do it. Saga was second here last year by a mile but falls behind on Tuesday. He's out of pace, so he needs all the breaks and a lot of luck. Getting to the moon is tricky, so we're going to try it in the big handicap, Royal Hunt Cup (Wednesday), and ride it with a lot of patience. He's got the ability.
I can't remember having a First Day Amusement Book at Ascot like the one I had on Tuesday. I don't think any of them are there just for Pimm's, I hope they're there for champagne.
Frankie Dettori is a spokesperson for Howden Insurance.
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