Frankie Dettori and Champions Day – a match made in heaven

Features | 15^th October 2020

Frankie Dettori is the most successful jockey at QIPCO British Champions Day with seven Group race victories and has an excellent book of rides this year.

When Frankie Dettori is on form at Ascot, there’s very little that anyone can do to stop him. The 49-year-old has won the Royal Ascot top jockey award at the last two renewals and famously went through the card at Ascot in September 1996 at massive odds of 25,051/1.

The unbelievable feat was etched forever into sporting folklore; dubbed Frankie Dettori’s magnificent 7.

Frankie has four fantastic chances to look forward to at Champions Day. It was with much delight and excitement to see Stradivarius coming back to Champions Day after his Arc run.

The six-year-old is going for his second Long Distance Cup victory and his sixth career winner at Ascot.

Elsewhere on the card, Dettori will be hoping he can guide the talented Mehdaayih to her first Group 1 win in the Champions Fillies’ & Mares’.

He then gets the leg up on the hottest favourite of the day, Palace Pier, in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The three-year-old has an unblemished record over five races, including two Group 1 victories, one of which came at Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

In the big one, the QIPCO Champion Stakes, Dettori rides Mishriff who like Palace Pier comes into the races unbeaten in 2020, including Group 1 glory in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

Greatest Champions Day Wins

It’s hard to argue against Crackman’s scintillating performances in the 2017 and 2018 Champion Stakes. Both displays taking the breath away from the 30,000 spectators there to witness them live. The way he flew away from his rivals was very much like his father, Frankel.

Back-to-back Champion Stakes and only the second horse to be victorious at two QIPCO British Champions Day events.

The superb Cracksman made history here at #Ascot, and is next in our Ascot Legends series... pic.twitter.com/PyDCpKP7nX
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) November 9, 2018

Frankie Dettori's seven Group race victories at Champions Day

It’s the tenth year of QIPCO British Champions on Saturday, make sure not to miss the stars of the sport from across the globe in action as they bid to follow in the hoof prints of British and European racing legends starting at 1:30pm on ITV1.

What a day of action we've got coming up for you on Saturday! 😮

Join us from 1pm for Qipco British Champions Day LIVE on @ITV #ChampionsDay #ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/QLGzYQNRNX
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 14, 2020