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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jon Lees

Royal Ascot 2023: Frankie Dettori gets nine day ban for ride on King's horse

Frankie Dettori endured a disastrous start to his final appearance at Royal Ascot when he was banned for nine days after riding the King and Queen’s horse.

Dettori was unable to add to his tally of 77 victories at the meeting, going winless from five rides on the first day of the meeting.

He rode second place finishes on Inspiral in the Queen Anne Stakes, Chaldean in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Absurde in the Copper Horse handicap.

But his day hit rock bottom after arguably his most important ride of the day on Saga in the Wolferton Stakes.

The grey is owned by the King and Queen and was an unlucky loser 12 months ago when finishing second at the meeting for the late Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles and Queen Camilla attended Royal Ascot for the first time since the death of the Queen, for whom the meeting was an annual highlight.

Saga, sent off a 9-1 chance, finished fifth this time round, without threatening the main placings but the stewards held an inquiry into an incident just after the start.

It considered interference involving Cadillac, Certain Lad, Notre Belle Bete and Saga, who were all unplaced.

The report concluded that Dettori had shifted his mount right-handed when insufficiently clear causing James McDonald on Cadillac to take a significant check which caused his mount to become severely unbalanced against the rail.

This in turn led to Ben Curtis having to give Certain Lad a severe check off the heels of Cadillac and David Probert had to steady Notre Belle Bete off heels.

The dates of the ban are July 4 to 12 inclusive which means he will miss the Coral-Eclipse Stakes on July 8 in which he would be expected to ride Coronation Cup winner Emily Upjohn.

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