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| |  Wednesday, 20 June, 2001, 17:39 GMT 18:39 UK Ascot treble for Dettori Dettori rides Fantastic Light to victory at Royal Ascot Frankie Dettori renewed his love affair with Royal Ascot, winning a thrilling treble on Wednesday. He first guided Fantastic Light to victory in the day's big race, the Prince of Wales' Stakes. Then, his next mount, Surprise Encounter, shocked a few punters by edging out a large field, to win the Royal Hunt Cup. Finally, in the last race of the day, he pipped Parasol to the post on board Seba. Dettori had endured a disappointing afternoon on Tuesday, failing to find a winner.
On 28 September of that year, he swept through his entire card, riding seven straight winners at aggregate odds of 25,000-1. Wednesday's achievements, while more modest, were impressive nonetheless. His first mount, Fantastic Light, streaked away from a high-quality field to win the Prince of Wales' Stakes by two-and-a-half lengths. The favourite, Kalanisi, came in second, mounted by Kieren Fallon, ahead of Hightori. On this form, Fantastic Light could have a season to remember. The five-year-old, who was last year's Emirates World Series champion, swept past his top-class rivals in tremendous style.
The 100-30 shot clearly benefited from the fast early pace set by stable-mate Give The Slip and was always travelling smoothly under Frankie Dettori. Kalanisi, the 2-1 favourite, was kicked into the lead two furlongs out, but Dettori had the move covered and sailed down the home straight. "I was completely boxed in and when Kieren (Fallon) kicked ahead I was worried but he's done everything on the bridle, which is the sign of a special horse," said Dettori. "And when I asked him to quicken he has really gone for it. "I had a terrible time yesterday but the lip is back up now!" Sheikh Mohammed, the head of the Godolphin operation in whose colours Fantastic Light was running, was understandably delighted. "He was travelling easily, then away he go, and he go and he go," he said.
Dettori's second winner, Surprise Encounter, quickened smartly from off the pace, to head home Big Result, while heavily-backed favourite, Tough Speed, trailed in ninth. Winning trainer, Ed Dunlop admitted: "I didn't think we could beat Tough Speed - he finished second at York to Soviet Flash and that horse came third in the Diomed Stakes at Epsom. "But we have always liked this horse. He has had problems and we have taken it very steadily. I thought Frankie rode him beautifully today, he sat last and then quickened really well." Dettori, landing his first Hunt Cup after three second places, had always been confident. "When I won on him at Doncaster he gave me a wonderful feel," the jockey said. "I thought he would be ideal for the Hunt Cup as the race would suit him. Everything went well and he won in good style." Dettori's triple was secured against the odds, when he rallied David Loder-trained, Seba, to victory from nowhere. The 3-1 favourite was in trouble with a furlong to go, but closed fast at the finish to overhaul Parasol - a 10-1 shot - with its final stride. Full result, 1545BST: Full result, 1620BST: Full result, 1730BST: | |
See also:  12 Jun 01 | Royal Ascot 19 Jun 01 | Royal Ascot Top Royal Ascot stories now: Links to more Royal Ascot stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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