FRANKIE DETTORI - YOU HAVE GOT TO LOVE HIM!

By Graham Potter | Monday, December 11, 2023

Frankie Dettori very much runs his own show.

His presence and his approach to the photo-shoot he was asked to participate in at the Gold Coast when the club unveiled its new turf track on Saturday underlined that fact.

The maestro conducted proceedings in his own inimitable style.

From the moment he walked out with the club’s officials, instead of being directed, he started directing ... holding his phone up to take a video announcing where he was ... and why ... ushering Chairman Brett Cook into frame ... then moving to the track itself, but only after taking off his shoes and going onto the grass bare-feet to get a real feel of the racing surface.

It was vintage Frankie!

After posing on the track with Gold Coast Chairman (Brett Cook), the Racing Minister (Grace Grace), CEO (Steve Lines) , Racing Manager (Ian Brown) and Track Curator (Nevesh Ramdhani) ... some would have thought the photo-shoot was over.

Not Dettori.

“I’m going to see the jockeys,” said Dettori and headed straight for the Jockey’s room. Then he had a better idea, why not bring all of the jockeys out into the parade ring for a group photo!

And so, Dettori told all of the jockeys to come out, waving them forward to where he wanted them to stand ... and he was always going to make sure nobody was left out.

When a couple of jockeys were either a bit shy or slow to step forward, Dettori kept gesticulating to them to join him ... effectively holding up the taking of a posed photo until all of the jockeys were in place.

He created a lasting memory for all of them.
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A real treasure of a moment came when Dettori spotted his old mate Robbie Fradd in the crowd on his way to the Jockey’s room.

His arms went up like he had just scored the winning goal for Italy in a World Cup final.

With a broad smile, Dettori placed both hands on the side of Fradd’s head and pulled him in for a huge hug, swinging Fradd around with typical Dettori exuberance, a hug that Fradd emerged from seemingly glowing from the experience.

Dettori’s exuberance is catching. You just have to look at those around him to see how he lights them up.

A few more posed photos along the way with people who asked for them ... he is always happy to oblige ... and that was it.

It hadn’t taken long but it was a bit of a whirlwind ... with Dettori cramming a lot of people into a short space of time.

It’s Frankie’s birthday on Friday. Hope he gets a good present or two because he gave some young riders a wonderful gift by simply acknowledging them ... and others ... on Saturday.

Perhaps it is fitting that Robbie Fradd has the last word.

“Frankie is a great example of what I keep telling the young riders," said Fradd.

"No matter how successful you are, your must always stay humble.”

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