Sir AP McCoy has given some wise words to Frankie Dettori as the jockey begins his farewell tour.
Flat racing's most famous current rider announced on Saturday that 2023 will be his final year of competing.
In a stellar career, spanning 35 years, 52-year-old Dettori has won dozens of big races across the world. Known for entertaining the crowds with his trademark flying dismount after a major triumph, the three-time champion jockey plans to hang up his breeches after the Breeders Cup in California.
Over the next 12 months, he will ride at major fixtures including Royal Ascot and Epsom's Derby for one final time.
McCoy, who retired in 2015 as a 20-time champion of the sport, had 4358 winners – a haul which included the Grand National and two renewals of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
He spent several months bringing his illustrious career to an end at racecourses up and down the country, which Dettori will be doing when he returns from a festive work trip to America.
Via Twitter, McCoy advised Dettori to make the most of the final chapter, after more than 3,300 victories in the saddle.
"Greatness exists in us all, but not everyone gets to show it to the world. Enjoy Frankie for the next year everyone. Take it all in @FrankieDettori it will be gone in a flash," McCoy said.
McCoy also called Dettori '"racing's Lionel Messi " as the Italian, who rode his first British winner in 1987, announced he would be calling it a day.
Reacting on ITV Racing, Dettori said: "Very nice words. That's the only thing I was worried about, it's going to be exciting and torture because (I'll be) saying farewell to what has been 35 years of my life. It's going to be emotional, draining, but I have made the decision and now I'm sticking to it.
"Today is the beginning so I do feel a little bit emotional but I'm trying to look at it in a positive way and make it a celebration."
Dozens of racing fans paid tribute to Dettori's contribution to racing, which included his historic day at Ascot in 1996 when he had all seven winners on the racecard.
The feat cost the bookies around £30 million as punters piled the selections into accumulators. One named Gary Wiltshire took on Dettori's final ride, offering bigger odds than others on Fujiyama Quest – and he had to pay out £1.4 million.
Journalist and ITV Racing pundit Brough Scott, 80, reported on the famous event and said Dettori will be missed.
"There has never been anyone like him, there never will be again," he said.
"The true superstars are unique."
Saeed bin Suroor, who celebrated countless success with Dettori in the mid 1990s and beyond, said: "He has been example for young jockeys and I’m sure everyone in racing will miss Frankie. He was something special and the public loved him.”
