Frankie Dettori’s Fairytale Victory at Royal Ascot Gold Cup 2023
Frankie Dettori Secures Fairytale Victory in Final Royal Ascot Gold Cup Ride
June 22, 2023 – In a thrilling display at the prestigious Royal Ascot 2023, legendary jockey Frankie Dettori rode Courage Mon Ami to a stunning victory in the Gold Cup, his ninth triumph in the coveted race. The aptly-named four-year-old showed tremendous grit and determination to down the favorite Coltrane in a titanic battle through the final furlong of the Royal Ascot showpiece.
Dettori, who will be hanging up his boots at the end of the year, delivered a masterful ride, settling Courage Mon Ami near the back of the pack as Subjectivist, the winner two years ago, set the early pace. The Italian jockey then took a risk, waiting patiently on the rail before sweeping through the field and switching outside Coltrane’s withers. The son of Frankel kept finding more, refusing to surrender to the 11-4 favorite ridden by Oisin Murphy, and crossed the line first to the delight of the Ascot crowd.
“Unbelievable! I thought it was a bridge too far from handicaps, but I had the perfect race,” said the jubilant rider, who received a tremendous reception and even gave the Queen a kiss at the presentation ceremony.
Subjectivist put in a gallant effort to finish third, while the performance delighted trainer Charlie Johnston. “He’s run a great race. I was sort of expecting he would win, or we would be out with the washing!” said Johnston. “It’s been a long road and just being here is pretty special. Let’s hope he’s OK and we can go again.”
For the victorious Dettori, it was a fairytale conclusion to his illustrious career at Royal Ascot. Trainer John Gosden praised Dettori’s masterful display, saying, “It was a great ride by Frankie, he saved every inch and slipped through and showed his nerves were better than ours.”
With Courage Mon Ami having only his fourth lifetime start, the victory was a remarkable achievement, cementing Dettori’s legacy as one of the all-time greats of the sport. As the curtain falls on his Royal Ascot career, the Italian jockey has once again proven his ability to deliver on the biggest stages, leaving an indelible mark on the prestigious Royal Ascot 2023.
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