Frankie Dettori admits that he has been losing sleep over his lack of success in the Vodafone Derby.
On par with Colin Montgomerie never having won a major, Paula Radcliffe an Olympic medal and Tony McCoy the Grand National, the Italian's CV has this one gaping hole in it.
And Dettori has double reason to succeed at Epsom this time after being handed a six-day riding ban which rules him out of Royal Ascot at York later in June.
In 12 attempts at the world-famous Epsom Classic, the reigning champion Flat jockey has never been closer than runner-up, on Tamure, behind Lammtarra in 1995.
Otherwise, the most talked about racing career since that of Lester Piggott has been peppered with a couple of Derby thirds, and lots of also-rans.
Piggott himself found the winner's enclosure a record nine times, starting at 18 years old in 1954, with Never Say Die, and perhaps most famously on Nijinsky (1970).
Once upon a time, hacks like this one went bouncing up to Dettori every June to discuss the Derby, and received a good-natured grin as our questions were politely answered.
These days, although the smile and the politeness are still very much in evidence, a growing sense of frustration is also apparent.
"People do often ask me about it," said the 34-year-old, "and I say, obviously, that it is the race I am desperate to win, and, yes, it does annoy me not to have won it.
"But I can only work hard, and keep on trying, and that is what I will do. May be it will be this year but, of course, I have said that before."
Charged with the responsibility of attempting to achieve the thus far impossible at Epsom this year is Dubawi, the winner of Ireland's 2000 Guineas after flopping in the Newmarket version.
The colt is a son of the ill-fated stallion Dubai Millennium, on whom Dettori was ninth in the Derby in 1999, for owner Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin stable.
The Sheikh, crown prince of Dubai, adored Dubawi's sire, and was inconsolable when he died of grass sickness after just one season at stud.
Consequently, his offspring is the apple of his owner's ever-alert eye, and goes to the big race with hopes as high as Epsom's Tattenham hill.
But there are doubts about the extra distance compared to Ireland (half a mile more) and the prevailing fast-ish going conditions, similar to those blamed for the Newmarket Guineas defeat.
In some respects, I suppose, Dettori's lack of success is a positive, proving that the Derby is much bigger than all of its participants, whatever their status.
But a Derby victory for him would be an incalculable publicity boost for racing, just like his magnificent 7-timer at Ascot in 1996.
And it would come at an opportune time.
As well as the so far lacklustre 2005 Flat season needing a shot in the arm, there are big worries over terrestrial TV coverage and potentially very costly legal wranglings, plus the endless police inquiry into alleged corruption.
So, an Italian job at Epsom - at last- would be, as they say, just the job.
MMIX
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