Frankie Dettori has made a wish for the Queen's special jubilee celebrations this summer.
The top jockey has set his sights on riding a Royal Ascot winner in the famous royal silks. At last year's meeting, the pair came agonisingly close to the achievement, when Reach For The Moon was a half-length second in the Listed Chesham Stakes.
The John Gosden-trained colt could be a historic runner in this year's Derby, which coincides with the official Bank Holiday weekend to mark the Queen's 70 years of service. In the same month, Dettori hopes to provide the lifelong racing fan with a moment to treasure at her favourite meeting in Berkshire.
“If I have one more Royal Ascot winner, I’d love it to be for Her Majesty,” he said. “It is always a tremendous honour to ride for her. The thrill is always the same. There is enormous pride riding for her. It is her Jubilee this year – 70 years – and she is 96 this week (April 21), so it would be an absolute dream to win at Royal Ascot for her. Wouldn’t that be fantastic? I think everyone would love it!”
Dettori, in his 35th season, has 76 winners to his name during the flagship week of Flat racing. Reach For The Moon, just 10-1 with bookmakers for the Derby, has a big reputation for the major races in the coming months. The Epsom Classic, a race Dettori won on Authorized (2007) and Golden Horn (2015), is on June 4 this year.
"Reach For The Moon is a lovely horse,” he added. “Unfortunately, he had a little setback but I think he is on his way back. He was second in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and almost gave Her Majesty a win in the Chesham at the Royal meeting last year. He won the Solario at Sandown last August and we think the world of him.”
Educator, who got off the mark for the season in a handicap at Newmarket, is another possible Derby horse. Trained by William Haggas, the son of Deep Impact from the Queen's breeding operation, has to progress through the ranks to make the Classic. The 95-year-old monarch was not at the racecourse to see Educator's performance, but her racing manager John Warren was at the event and noted that she would be watching on the television.
According to The Jockey Club, Mr Warren said: “I don’t know whether she had an appointment, but she would have had it recorded and she will watch it. She will be very pleased with that outcome.” The Queen turns 96 tomorrow and is spending the special day at Sandringham. The monarch flew from Windsor Castle to the estate where her beloved late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, spent much of his retirement.
Royal sources said the Queen’s “mini-break” was a “positive step” that she is prepared to make the journey given her ongoing mobility issues. Her Majesty has been forced to cancel or miss several high-profile engagements over recent months due to her ailing health.
