Frankie Dettori has admitted he never expected to ride a horse with a genuine chance of winning the Derby in his final season, but will partner the John and Thady Gosden-trained Arrest in Saturday's Epsom Classic. The veteran jockey, who announced last year that 2023 would be his last in the saddle, described his position as 'a great position to be in that I didn't expect'.
Dettori, who won his first Derby on Authorized in 2007 and added a second on Golden Horn in 2015, recalled the pressure of finally breaking his duck after 15 attempts. 'It was a nightmare, every time we came to the Derby,' he said. 'Finally, it was the last piece of the jigsaw.' He described Golden Horn's victory as 'probably one of my biggest thrills in one single race'.
Arrest, who impressed when winning the Chester Vase last month, has strengthened and filled out since Dettori first rode him last year. 'He was all frame last year, but he has filled out to be a good-looking horse and strong,' Dettori said. The colt's stamina for the mile-and-a-half trip is not in doubt.
The Derby has been moved to an unusually early start time of 1.30pm to avoid clashing with the FA Cup final, while train strikes on both days of the meeting may affect attendance. Dettori, who rode his first Derby in 1992, recalled walking through the Gypsies in the middle of the course that day, a tradition that ended when the paddock was moved.
Dettori's previous Derby victories came on favourites, and Arrest could head the market if sentimental support from punters materialises. The jockey completed a Group One double on Friday's card, winning the Coronation Cup and the Oaks.
