Frankie Dettori set to ride King Of Steel in Champion Stakes at Ascot on his last ever day racing Britain
FRANKIE DETTORI is set to get the ride on King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes at Ascot - on his final ever day racing in Britain.
Dettori will bring the curtain down on his 36-year career on home soil at the site of his famous Magnificent Seven.
And he could go out on a high after being picked by Kia Joorabchian to ride his Derby runner-up.
Dettori, who rides hot favourite Inspiral in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket on Saturday, will fill the void left by Kevin Stott, temporarily, at least.
Sun Racing told you football superagent Joorabchian cut ties with ex-retained rider Stott due to 'reasons outside racing' last month.
Stott was in the saddle when King Of Steel was second to Auguste Rodin at 66-1 in the world's most famous Flat race.
And he steered the three-year-old Amo Racing stable star to Group 2 victory at Royal Ascot later that month.
But it is Dettori who Joorabchian will almost certainly turn to on Champions Day, with King Of Steel currently a best-price 6-1 to land the £740,000 first-place prize.
Dettori, who Joorabchian considers a 'big friend', has previously raced in the purple Amo silks.
They teamed up to come second in the Group 1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville in August last year with Persian Force.
Most read in Horse Racing
And their association goes back to 2019 when Dettori rode Maxi Boy in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes over the July Course at Newmarket.
Joorbachian told Sun Racing: "Frankie is a big friend and has ridden Amo horses for years.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Tote: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets -
Virgin Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets -
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets -
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses -
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets -
Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £5 and win or lose you will receive £20 Tote Credit. £20 Tote Credit rewarded as £10 redeemable against racing bets only and £10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply.
Virgin Bet: New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. 18+
Betfair: New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org
"I love the Breeders' Cup and the Classic is a dream, it's a race I have on my mind.
"But Champions Day will also be a phenomenal day and Ascot is the most special place for us.
"I will talk to Roger Varian next week and we will make a collective decision."
King Of Steel followed up his Royal meeting win with a third-place finish in the King George.
Returned to 1m2f, the colt finished a length fourth behind his Derby conqueror Auguste Rodin when last seen in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown a month ago.
Joorabchian is looking for a new No1 jockey after getting rid of Stott.
Rumours have been circulating as to who could replace him - with whispers a mega-money retainer could see Dettori return for only the biggest rides.
The Italian, who after Ascot is set to race in the US, Australia, Hong Kong and possibly Japan as part of his global farewell tour, has said only a 'stupid' offer would make him reconsider retirement.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Dettori has also been lined up for a spot on the I'm A Celeb.
But no one rides Ascot better than Dettori so, if successful, don't be surprised if this is the start of something big.
FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare –
- Gamble Aware –