Frankie Dettori landed running here in Dubai on Wednesday morning. He flew in from London at 6.25am and within half an hour was riding in front of the world’s media at Sheikh Mohammed’s Al Quoz stables.
He had been in England for the birth of his second child on Monday when his wife Catherine presented him with a 5lb 3oz baby daughter Ella.
Dettori made the quick dash by taxi from the airport to the gallops and partnered Street Cry, his mount in Saturday’s $2m UAE Derby at Nad Al Sheba.
“Street Cry felt good and is a class act,” reported the Italian jockey. “He will give us a big run in the Derby.”
Last year, Dettori won the $6m Dubai World Cup on Dubai Millennium. He tries again on Saturday when he will be aboard Best of the Bests in the world’s richest race.
“This horse is no Dubai Millennium, and may never be,” he said. “But he has matured as a four-year-old and is getting better.”
Oh, yes, and mother and daughter are doing well.
“Ella is only tiny. But then neither of us is very big,” said Dettori with a grin. “She’s lovely.”
