HK DEC 7 - IT'S FRANKIE'S NIGHT AT HAPPY VALLEY

By Hong Kong Jockey Club | Wednesday, December 7, 2011

International superstar Frankie Dettori thrilled Happy Valley race fans when taking out the 2011 Cathay Pacific International Jockeys' Championship in emphatic style on Wednesday night in a gripping competition that went all the way to the wire.

Dettori’s success followed previous wins in the competition in 1999 and 2001 and tied his record with that of local champion Douglas Whyte on three wins apiece in the series.

Dettori kicked off his night in perfect style when guiding Travel Guide to an easy two-length win in the 1650m first leg of the CXIJC.

Breaking alertly from Gate 6 and gaining an easy lead, Dettori dictated matters from the front, slowing things a little down the back straight and keeping plenty up his sleeve before quickening up in the straight to put the result beyond doubt some way from home.

James McDonald aboard Joyful Winner II in second and Ryan Moore aboard Something Special in third did best of the rest in a vain pursuit of the winner.

“That was a great start to the evening,” said Dettori, “the plan was to go out and make it, and it worked perfectly.”

In the second leg James McDonald brought the John Moore-trained Sunny More wide and late to foil the pace-setting effort of Bumper Strike (Andrasch Starke / John Size) to take the race, and with it the overall lead in the championship, following his second place effort in the opener.

“It's going great so far, but I just hope I can sustain it,” he said, clearly not wanting to get ahead of himself with two legs still to go.

Easy Ahead took third to give local champion Douglas Whyte his first points of the night.

Christophe Lemaire, out of luck in the first two legs, threw his hat into the ring as a title contender when taking the third leg of the CXIJC on the Derek Cruz-trained My Home Town, when coming home ahead of Dettori’s mount, the Richard Gibson-trained Ambitious Treasure, where six points did Frankie’s chances of success no harm.

John Murtagh took third spot aboard Great Achievement to score his first points of the night.

A delighted Lemaire said afterwards: “That was great, I'm in the competition, it is now all about the last.”

After three legs the competition was delicately poised, with Dettori and McDonald, with a win and a second place finish apiece, equal on 18 points, with Lemaire on 12 points, and Andrasch Starke on six points, needing a win to tie with Dettori and McDonald, but needing the others to draw blanks.

And so to the final leg: In the end, the mathematics were all academic. Frankie put his rivals to the sword with a patient but emphatic ride aboard the Tony Cruz-trained Regency Winner, while his closest rivals could not get on the board.

Off the pace early, Dettori won his second race of the night in totally contrasting style to his previous success in leg one.

The win took him to 30 points, ahead of James McDonald in the runner-up spot on 18 points. Christophe Lemaire's win left him on his own in third place with 12 points.

Dettori was clearly delighted by his success, celebrating both wins with his trademark flying dismount. “I haven't ridden in this competition for a long time (since 2003), as I have had to attend the Christmas nativity plays of my five children, but now they are older, I asked my wife if I could come here and she said ‘Yes’!

“I knew I had chances tonight, and the first race was fairly easy, but after that I knew I had to concentrate. When it came to the last race, I had a lot of luck, and it worked out well in the end. I love coming here and riding in Hong Kong. Not bad for an old un!!” he grinned.

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