Come on Me. That's the cry which the effervescent Frankie Dettori uses to gee himself up before a big race.

Come on Frankie. That's the shout which punters across the world have become acquainted to bellowing at the brilliant Italian-born jockey.

Both had been in short supply in a traumatic year which took the edge off Dettori's seemingly unstoppable charge towards racing greatness.

But on a memorable weekend in Paris, Dettori shrugged off the doubters with a five-race haul at the big two-day meeting in Longchamp.

However, the new millennium began a grim chapter for the jockey, which almost claimed his life.

He narrowly escaped serious injury in a light airplane crash near Newmarket, which killed the pilot.

Dettori's injuries in the crash ruled him out for much of the 2000 season, and he missed the ride on Dubai Millennium, who scored in breathtaking fashion at Royal Ascot.

Dubai Millennium was Dettori's favourite horse, a beacon of hope for the mighty Godolphin training and breeding operation for which Frankie is the stable jockey.

But the horse was injured on the gallops and had to be retired.

And later the unthinkable happened as Godolphin, with its twin bases in Dubai and England, regrouped for the new season.

A mystery illness struck their star colt at stud, and Dubai Millennium died.

Dettori was clearly upset at the news, and he was struggling in the saddle, losing on leading fancies at the Dubai World Cup in March 2001.

The cheers had turned to jeers for the golden boy of racing.

Little more than six months later, Dettori's star is shining again.

He clinched the Coronation Cup at Epsom's Derby meeting in June on Mutafaweq.

And then he rewarded each-way punters who plunged on his Derby mount Tobougg by bringing the heavily-backed colt into third.

There were still dark mutterings about Godolphin being eclipsed by the Irish camp of Coolmore and their mighty team, including the brilliant Derby winner Galileo.

But after defeat on Fantastic Light by Galileo in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot, Dettori had a trick up his sleeve for the rematch.

In the Irish Champion Stakes, Dettori kept Fantastic Light on the inside rail, and was gifted the run of the race by a stable-mate who passed aside.

Bookies hit

Godolphin won the tactical battle. Fantastic Light triumphed, and the great Irish horse was defeated on home soil.

The spring was back in Frankie's step, and there was a glint in his eye when 2000 Derby runner-up Sakhee returned to winning ways, and stormed to victory in the Juddmonte International at York.

Sakhee improved further and gave Dettori his second Arc win on Sunday, following the victory on Lammtarra in 1995.

But more than that, the punter's pal was back.

British bookmakers lost an estimated �1m to Dettori's successes at Longchamp.

Thousands of punters who crossed the Channel to Paris for the Arc meeting were also toasting their favourite jockey.

And the shouts around the French course, were distinctly English - Come on Frankie.