Frankie: I’m going all out to be Top Jockey at Royal Ascot
Published:
Royal Ascot is the biggest week of my year. I travel all over the world but Ascot is still at the top of the pile and the Royal meeting is the pinnacle.
I said at the start of the season that I’d be making the Royal meeting one of my key targets this year.
I’m not going all over the country again in a bid to be champion jockey but when it comes to Royal Ascot week I am going all out to be top jockey.
I know it won’t be easy but I’ve had a good look at some of my rides and you can write me off at your peril. I’m going to throw everything at next week and I can’t wait for it to arrive now.
My best chance over the five days could be with Magical Memory in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday. Charlie Hills loves this sprinter and I do too. Charlie has a great ability with his sprinters and I don’t see a rival in the race that I’d rather be on.
I know that Wesley Ward’s two-year-olds are going to have to fire if I’m to stand a chance but I went down to Manton last week and they look tremendous. I’d say their preparations couldn’t have been better. It’s up to me now to show them to best effect.
Lady Aurelia and Create A Dream both look picture perfect. Those two fillies really excite me.
I’m on standby for Time Test and hoping it works out that I reunite with him after winning last year. I’m on Mehmas in the Coventry who is second favourite and I rode Nemoralia for Jeremy Noseda earlier this week and she gave me a great feel ahead of the Coronation Stakes.
The St James’s Palace on the opening day looks high class. Everyone is excited about The Gurkha after what he did in France but my own Guineas winner Galileo Gold is in tremendous shape.
Awtaad is in there for what could be a sensational race and I’m keen to have another crack at turning the tables on him after what happened in Ireland.
The more I talk about it the more I convince myself I’ve got a fighting chance next week!
I grabbed three winners last year and hope to surpass that in 2016.
Good luck!
Frankie.
Ladbrokes latest betting:
Frankie Dettori to be Royal Ascot Top Jockey – 5/1
Frankie Dettori to ride four or more winners at Royal Ascot – 3/1
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
