Frankie Dettori started the final chapter of his illustrious career by riding his first winner of the year in Britain on his first day back - after just four hours of sleep.
The 52-year-old superstar jockey flew back from the US overnight and got right back into the groove with a smooth victory on Covey at Newmarket, his adopted home.
Dettori announced in December that 2023 would be his last year in the saddle with the Italian set to put down his whip for good in the autumn.
He finished last on his first two rides, among them on King Charles III's one-time Derby hope Reach For The Moon.
But his fortunes turned in the Alex Scott Maiden Stakes in which 5-6 favourite Covey cruised to victory by four lengths.
“I arrived this morning, I slept two hours on the plane and two hours in my bed this morning!” he said.
“I had to start somewhere and I thought this was a good favourite. Reach For The Moon was a bit disappointing, but that’s the game and it’s good to get a win on the board.
“I was counting it this morning, I’ve got exactly six months left. It is six months until October 21 on Champions Day, but I’ve still got plenty to do and I’m not going to start crying yet, I’m going to enjoy it.
“Covey seemed a nice horse, he did it all on his own and he’s learning still but he felt nice.”
Covey is trained by John and Thady Gosden and after a public fallout last season, brief as it was, Gosden senior and his jockey appear back on the best of terms.
John Gosden said: “He only landed at 6am so it’s good to put him on a winner.”
Of Covey, he added: “He ran a great race first time, he’s come here, grabbed the rail and did everything nicely, he’ll probably step up to a mile.”
