Frankie Dettori, although Italian by birth, spent his entire 35-year career living and working in England. During this time, he clinched victories in every Group 1 race except for the July Cup. One of his most remarkable accomplishments came on September 28, 1996, when he won all seven races on British Festival of Racing Day at Ascot. Dettori's impressive winning record spans numerous countries across the globe, including France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Hong Kong, Macau, Hungary, South Africa, the USA, the UAE, and Trinidad and Tobago. Additionally, he has also achieved wins in Canadian racing events.
Canadian International Rates
The Canadian International Stakes is a prestigious Grade 1 race held annually at Woodbine Racecourse, where Frankie Dettori has celebrated victory four times. Despite moving away from Europe, all his winning rides in this event have involved European horses.
In 2000, he piloted the stallion Mutafavek, trained by the renowned Saeed bin Suroor of Godolphin stables, to victory at Woodbine. The pairing was strategic, as the previous year Dettori and Mutafavek had secured a win in the Grade 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Epsom, setting high expectations for their Canadian performance. After clinching the win in Canada, Mutafavek’s owners sought to continue the momentum by entering him in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, a Grade 1 race, where they once again celebrated a victory with Dettori finishing in signature style.
In 2004, Saeed bin Suroor called on Dettori once more for the International Stakes, this time aboard Sulamani, another Godolphin horse. The duo had previously triumphed in the Dubai Sheema Classic in 2003 and the Juddmonte International Stakes in 2004, both Grade 1 events, and they replicated their success at Woodbine.
In 2012, Dettori partnered with Joshua Tree, a five-year-old thoroughbred stallion from Ireland owned by Dubai businessman and horse breeder Khalid Khalifa al-Nabooda and Kamal Albahou, known as Mr. Khalid in the racing community. Joshua Tree had previously won this race in 2010 with jockey Colm O'Donoghue but faced a setback in 2011, finishing second to the Irish mare Sarah Links. In light of this, his owners sought the expertise of Dettori for a safer bet. Dettori set a strong pace, leading Joshua Tree to victory, marking Dettori's third win in the Canadian International Stakes and the horse's second.
Joshua Tree would also claim victory in 2013 with a different jockey, making him the only horse to win the race three times. Frankie Dettori made a triumphant return in 2021, riding the Godolphin gelding Walton Street, owned by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Trainer Charlie Appleby’s choice of Dettori proved to be fruitful, as he led Walton Street to victory, solidifying Dettori’s status as the unrivalled champion of the Canadian International Stakes with four wins.
E.P.Taylor Stakes
The Irish Thoroughbred mare Timarida, bred and owned by Aga Khan IV, the Imam and spiritual leader of Shiite Muslims, was an extraordinary competitor. During her two-year racing career from 1995 to 1996, she participated in 16 races, achieving an impressive record of 10 victories, along with 2 second-place finishes and 2 thirds.
In 1995, at just 25 years old, Frankie Dettori was already a renowned British jockey and received a permanent position with the Godolphin organisation, which was then managed by John Gosden. That season proved to be particularly successful for him; he guided Moonshell to victory in the Oaks in June, Lammtarra to a win in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July, and Classic Cliche to a first-place finish in the St. Leger in September, all prestigious Grade 1 races.
Timarida's trainer, John Ochs, who had a longstanding relationship with the Aga Khan, was known for his careful consideration of race distances and jockey selections. In 1995, he chose to enter Timarida in the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, believing that Frankie Dettori would be the ideal jockey for her, and his judgement proved correct. In October, the pair delivered a remarkable performance, competing for a prize pool of 750,000 Canadian dollars.
In 2008, under the continued partnership with Godolphin, trainer Saeed bin Suroor opted to enter another mare, Folk Opera, in the E.P. Taylor Stakes. Frankie Dettori once again showcased his talent, leading Folk Opera to victory by nearly two lengths over the nearest competitor, which earned the horse a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Summer Stakes and Natalya Stakes 2021
These Grade 1 races are held consecutively at Woodbine Racecourse in mid-September. In 2021, Frankie Dettori brought three horses from trainer Charles Appleby of Godolphin to Canada: the stallion Albahr for the Sammer Stakes, the mare Wild Beauty for the Natalma Stakes, and the gelding Walton Street for the Canadian International Stakes. Frankie delivered outstanding performances in all three races, captivating the Canadian crowd, satisfying his trainer and owner, and reinforcing his status as one of the top jockeys in the racing world.
On September 19, 2021, following Walton Street's remarkable victory in the Canadian International Stakes, Dettori had a memorable weekend at Woodbine Racecourse. It was a warm, sunny day, with temperatures around 21°C, and the turf track was in excellent condition for the 1-mile race. Wild Beauty, a daughter of Frankel, won the Natalma Stakes by two and a quarter lengths ahead of her closest competitor, securing her spot in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Immediately after that, Dettori's Albahr was the favourite in the Sammer Stakes. After starting seventh among the nine runners in the first quarter mile, with First Empire leading initially, Dettori made his move after the turns. Albahr surged ahead in the home straight, finishing two and a quarter lengths in front of Wild Beauty, marking a spectacular win for the jockey, Godolphin, and their lead trainer. Dettori's signature celebration of jumping and popping champagne capped off a successful 2021 season.
Although the unpredictable Dettori announced his retirement in 2023, he seemed to have reconsidered. Instead of stepping away from racing, he relocated to California and continued to compete. This news was certainly welcomed by horse racing fans, as the distance from California to the Canadian border is relatively short; perhaps he will be seen more frequently at Canadian race tracks moving forward.