Frankie Dettori will try to turn his farewell year into a golden goodbye in Saudi Arabia on Saturday where victory in the world’s richest horse race would net him a windfall of more than £800,000.
The Italian rides Country Grammer in the £16 million Saudi Cup, the US-trained horse on whom he captured last year’s Dubai World Cup.
He has interrupted a successful winter stint in California to partner the Bob Baffert-trained horse in one of the few international races he has yet to win.
“Country Grammer is solid,” said Dettori. “I’d be foolish to say I am confident but Bob skipped the Breeders’ Cup Classic and has basically aimed for this race and Dubai.”
Dettori, who also rides the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ebor winner Trawlerman in the £2m Red Sea Turf Handicap, announced in December that 2023 would be the final year of his extraordinary career.
“I have given myself a year to do my last farewell,” he said. “I've been in Santa Anita because I was asked. I will do the European programme. Ascot should be my last one in England and then possibly the Breeders’ Cup will be my last, or the Melbourne Cup if something comes up.
“I will be 53 in December and I want to finish at the top. It’s very hard to choose the right moment. My heart wants to carry on but I want to have another life.
“I have my eye on working in the media and possibly doing other things like buying a few horses.”
The Red Sea Turf will feature two comebacks in one when the 2021 Ascot Gold Cup winner Subjectivist and veteran jockey Joe Fanning return to the international stage.
The Charlie Johnston-trained Subjectivist has his first start in 618 days, after his career was nearly ended by a serious tendon injury, under Fanning who takes only his sixth ride since fracturing his humerus and collarbone last June.
They will try to pick up where they left off when they routed the field to win the Gold Cup by five lengths in the staying contest.
“Subjectivist had nine months of intensive water therapy, spent all of last summer out at grass and came back in September,” said Johnston.
“It;s a lot to ask for this horse to be back at the same level as two years ago, but we’ve done everything within reason to be here in the best shape possible.”
