Dettori’s last dance starts with treble in California

FRANKIE DETTORI made a perfect start to his winter stint riding at Southern California track Santa Anita with a Boxing Day treble.

The centrepiece was a victory on Bob Bafferttrained Country Grammer in the Grade Two San Antonio Stakes. The 52-year-old won the Dubai World Cup on the colt in March.

Dettori, who has announced that 2023 will be his last year as a jockey, was also successful on Doug O’Neill’s La Deuxieme Etoile and Simon Callaghan’s Ballet Dancing.

There was a flying dismount after his win on Country Grammer after which Dettori told US TV racing channel TVG: ‘The pressure was on. I’m here for 10 weeks and to ride possibly the best horse in California on the first day, I felt it a bit. ‘Once I knew I had the race won at the furlong marker I was able to enjoy the crowd — they were all screaming. He’s a good horse who never knows how to run a bad race.’

Baffert said: ‘I’m happy for Frankie. This is his last year and to have him on there and win a race like this is great. I can’t believe the crowd today, it’s crazy. It has been like a Breeders’ Cup day.’ Earlier this month, the popular Italian announced that 2023 would be his final year as a professional rider — with Santa Anita set to stage his swansong at next year’s Breeders’ Cup. Dettori also confirmed he would head to California over the festive period and made an immediate impact as he enjoyed opening-day success.

His first triumph came aboard the Baffert-trained Country Grammer, who he steered to Dubai World Cup glory at Meydan in March. Dropping in class for the Grade Two San Antonio Stakes after finishing second in his two previous outings at Grade One level — including a runner-up finish to the brilliant Flightline in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in September — the five-year-old comfortably got back on the winning trail.