 | Born: 15 December 1970 Nationality: Italian Height: 5ft 5" Champion jockey:
Twice (1994-95) English Classic wins:
Nine (all except Derby) 2003 wins: 102 2002 wins: 69 2001 wins: 96 2000 wins: 47 |
Lanfranco Dettori, the housewives' favourite jockey, is a racing superstar whose fame stretches a long way beyond the track. The Italian, who rides for the powerful Godolphin operation, is one of the captains on A Question Of Sport and even has his own range of frozen pizzas and ice cream.
Dettori's popularity is partly due to his friendly disposition and his willngness to entertain, epitomised by his trademark flying dismount after every Group One winner.
He came to England as a 14-year-old apprentice and rode his first winner at the age of 17.
A long and fruitful career has followed with the highlight coming when he rode every winner on a seven-race card at Ascot on 28 September, 1996.
His "Magnificent Seven" cleaned out the bookies, and even halted BBC Grandstand's Final Score as the cameras showed live coverage of his success.
The jockey has suffered his share of traumas, missing the 2000 Royal Ascot meeting as he recovered from injuries sustained in a plane crash which killed the pilot.
But after a couple of seasons which were somewhat subdued by his own effervescent standards, Dettori seems to have rediscovered his verve for racing.
And while his glittering CV still lacks the biggest prize of them all - the Epsom Derby - retirement is not an option.
MMIX
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