Frankie Dettori has always been one for the big stage and is daring to dream of a fairytale finish in his last ever Derby tomorrow at Epsom.
Dettori announced his intention earlier this year to retire from the saddle at the end of the season at the age of 52.
He has a shot at a third Derby win on 6-1 shot Arrest this weekend having previously triumphed with Authorized in 2007 and then Golden Horn in 2015.
Ahead of the race, he said: “It’s our biggest race. When you start as a jockey, that’s the race you want to win. The Derby is like tennis players with Wimbledon or Formula drivers with Monaco.
“I was hoping to find a final ride but this guy has a very chance of winning it, so it’s very exciting. It looks a very open Derby but we tick as many boxes as any of them.
“He’s been very full of himself the last few weeks and, when I announced my retirement in December, I never thought I’d have a horse with this good a chance in the Derby.
“Overall, I feel pretty chilled and relaxed, which is completely the opposite to how I thought I would feel heading into my final Derby.
“I’m on a horse that I wouldn’t swap for anything else in the race. There’s nothing in there that would interest me enough to jump off Arrest. He’s proven, he stays and I think I come into the race with as good a chance as anything in the field.”
There are concerns the race could be overshadowed by animal rights protestors as with the Grand National back in April.
The Jockey Club, which owns Epsom Racecourse where the Derby will be run, has been granted a High Court injunction which would hold any activists liable for damage and potentially result in a prison sentence should they protest on the track.
Of possible protests, Dettori said: “I just hope things go smoothly on Saturday, that we can get racing without creating any problems for anyone or putting anyone in danger.
“Most of the people in racing, we actually do it because we love the animals. I don’t really follow the politics, a lot of people have got issues about a lot of things in this day and age.”
