Given the capricious nature of the sport, there are few certainties in horse racing, but one thing can almost be guaranteed; Frankie Dettori will shed a tear when he dismounts for the last time at Royal Ascot.
The ebullient swashbuckling Italian says so himself as he prepares for his swansong at the five-day Festival which starts Tuesday and which has provided him with some of the highlights of his glittering career.
“The first four days will be OK, lots of waving, kissing and hugging and I hope a few flying dismounts,” said Dettori, who for many people is the face of racing. “But the last day will hit me hard. My wife and kids will be there. For sure I will cry.”
It should come as no surprise given his affection for a place he describes as the Olympics of racing.
“Royal Ascot is my favourite place in the world without question. I love everything about it, the tradition, the royal procession, everyone in top hat and tails.
“I come alive there and I’m in a different zone. It lifts me every time! And this year will be so special because it will be my last ever Royal Ascot.
“I can’t believe this year will be the last time ever.”
That said, the build up to the meeting will not have been different to past years for Dettori who rode his first winner there in 1990 on MarkofDistinction.
“In the week before I always get the same combination of nerves and excitement. But if I can get a winner on the board on the first day, I can relax and everything will flow.
“You go to the last day without a winner and all of a sudden you can panic a bit and don’t ride the way you should.”
The 52-year-old Italian vividly remembers riding MarkofDistinction to victory in the the Queen Anne Stakes 33 years ago – the first of his 77 winners at the royal meet.
“Emotionally, MarkofDistinction was the best feeling I ever had. You never forget your first. My father Gianfranco was there and it was an amazing day.
“MarkofDistinction was a big success for me because I was just breaking through from an apprentice to a senior jockey.
“Now many of the jockeys I ride against weren’t even born then. No wonder I am retiring this year!”
He says he knows it is time to stop before his powers start to wane.
“My heart doesn’t want to, but my brain says I must. I want to finish on the top.
“You are only one fall away from stopping. And at my age when I do fall, I break.
“In the old days I used to have 1,200 rides a year. Now it’s probably 250. The more rides, the more chance you have of falling off.”
Dettori’s association with Ascot will forever be linked to the amazing day in 1996 when he went through the card, winning all seven races.
“That was a freak,” he continued. “I am not sure how it happened!”
At the royal meeting he has swept all before him.
“Three years ago I completed the grand slam of the eight Group 1 races on the card at Royal Ascot.
“The Group 1s are the hardest races to win in the world as every trainer and jockey will testify to. It meant everything to have managed it.
“At Ascot it is crucial to be positioned perfectly on the bend as you meet the slightly faster ground in the straight.”
One of his most famous associations was with the hugely popular stayer Stradivarius in the Gold Cup.
“The Gold Cup has been my race over the years [he has won it eight times] and they are really special and I have been so lucky to have been associated with Stradivarius.
“Stadivarius won his first Gold Cup in 2018 but for pure class nothing can eclipse his hat trick victory in 2020. I pressed the button two furlongs out. The response was scintillating as he streaked to a 10-length triumph. It was wonderful.
“Papineau was a great horse, he was a stayer with a turn of foot, he travelled, went round on the bridle he was a push-button ride. When you pressed the button he put the race to bed. Drum Taps won back-to-back Gold Cups so he played a special part for me. too.”
The roar of the crowd and the adulation is what fires him.
“I don’t have a normal life. Jockeys can’t. We are adrenaline junkies 24-7. I like the big stage. I feed off the people and the pressure.
”I like the big stage. I feed off the people and the pressure. It makes me more alert, I probably want it more now. I need that now otherwise I can’t start. I’m a bit like an old diesel which needs a fuel injection to get it going properly. If I don’t get the boost from the crowd or the pressure I am just a number.”
So whilst his farewell tour winds its way around the world when will we really see him for the final time?
“I am still unsure exactly where the curtain will come down on my career but I can say for certain that my last rides in Britain will be October 21 at Ascot on British Champions Day. Come what may that’s me done in Europe.
“Which continent and whether I actually finish at the Breeders’ Cup in Los Angeles, Melbourne Cup or Japan Cup I am not sure.”
With more tears on the way no doubt.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
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Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
