Legendary Flat jockey Frankie Dettori “fell on the floor” when he heard wonder mare Enable was to stay in training for another season.
The 48-year-old told guests at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) awards last week (16 October) of his excitement at owner Khalid Abdullah’s decision, as he picked up the racing award.
“Yesterday, I was at the sales when I got a text saying she was staying in training,” he said. “I fell on the ground like a kid.”
Frankie spoke of the John Gosden-trained mare’s attempt to win a record third Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, one of the most prestigious Flat races in the world, at the beginning of this month.
“We tried to do the impossible and we came unstuck, we finished second,” he said.
“But the good thing now is, if she’d won, she’d have gone to stud – so now I get to keep her for one more year.
“I went to see her this morning, and gave her half a packet of Polos and a pat on the head, and said: ‘Listen, we’ve got one more year, we’ll try again’.”
Frankie said the five-year-old is a rare equine hero for Flat races, her public prestige comparable to that of National Hunt stars such as Desert Orchid or Tiger Roll.
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He thanked the AHT for his award – for which compere Nick Brooks-Ward said there could be “no other winner” after Frankie’s fantastic season – and said he felt privileged to accept it from AHT president the Princess Royal.
He added: “We’re all here for one thing; that horses have given us happiness, jobs and purpose in life.
“Most things in the world today are on computers and phones; we’re lucky we still have something beautiful to share and enjoy.”
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