Dettori wins QEII Stakes by a nose

By Frank Keogh

Frankie Dettori rode four winners on the trot at Ascot, including the QEII Stakes on Poet's Voice, 14 years on from his 'Magnificent Seven'.

Dettori, who also won the Fillies' Mile on White Moonstone, got his mount up by a nose from last year's winner.

Earlier Frankel claimed a breathtaking victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes to become clear Epsom Derby favourite.

Henry Cecil said the colt was the best two-year-old he had trained for 40 years after a 10-length triumph.

Dettori has made this day his own, ever since he rode every winner on the card at combined odds of more than 25,000-1 in 1996.

Dettori savours victory on Poet's Voice at Ascot

And it was almost as if he wanted to produce something special for the fixture as the QEII was run for the last time in September before switching to three weeks later next year as part of a new Champions Day.

"This is my church - Ascot," said Dettori as he milked the applause before a flying dismount after completing a 78-1 treble on Poet's Voice for his fifth QEII victory.

And with echoes of that famous September day 14 years earlier, he guided 7-4 favourite Rainfall to victory in the next race for a four-timer at combined odds of 217-1.

As punters latched onto another Dettori hot streak, he was sent off favourite in the last on Aaim To Prosper, but had to settle for third despite a valiant effort behind Ermyn Lodge.

Bookmakers estimate the four-timer cost the industry £5m.

"It's been a supersonic day, fantastic," said Dettori.

"It's been an unbelievable day. I always ask myself if I can do it again but to ride four winners is tremendous, especially the big ones.

606: DEBATE Have your say on Frankie Dettori and the Ascot racing action

"This course is an amazing place, the crowd gets behind me here and when I go out to race it just happens. This meeting is very special to me.

"I rode my first Group One winner here, my second Group One winner here, had my 'Magnificent Seven' and I think Poet's Voice is my fifth QEII."

Poet's Voice, trained by Saeed bin Suroor for the Godolphin team, was sent off 9-2 third favourite behind 2000 Guineas winner Makfi and Rip Van Winkle.

But Dettori gave his three-year-old mount a shrewd ride, pouncing in the later stages to just deny the runner-up, with Red Jazz in third.

"Saeed told me the horse was in tremendous form and I really can't believe I've won the two big races here today," said the Italian-born jockey.

"It's been a long time and I am full of emotions. I just don't know what to say. It's just fantastic."

Frankel lived up to the hype when demolishing his rivals to give former champion trainer Cecil his seventh Royal Lodge Stakes victory.

The colt was named by owner Khalid Abdulla after the late American trainer Bobby Frankel, who provided many big-race winners in the prince's green and pink colours.

Frankel has won all three of his races

"The last two months he has just improved and improved. He has a lot of talent. The way he works, I don't think I've had a better two-year-old since Wollow. That's a long time, 35 years ago," said Cecil.

However the 67-year-old Newmarket trainer, who has won the Derby four times, questioned whether Frankel would have the stamina to see out the mile-and-a-half trip at Epsom.

"He has got a lot of class. He could easily be a Guineas horse and we have to decide whether to go for the Dewhurst [16 October, Newmarket] or the Racing Post Trophy [23 October, Doncaster]" he added.

While Frankel heads the juvenile colts as 2-1 market leader for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in 2011, White Moonstone was cut to 4-1 from 6-1 for the 1000 Guineas after landing the Fillies' Mile.

"Now we will put her away for the winter. That will be it for the year. She is quite light-framed and I don't think she'll take much more racing," said Dettori

"We will have to wait and see for next year. All the options are open. We've got today over, now we can dream."

Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes 1m
1 Frankel (Henry Cecil) Tom Queally 3-10f
2 Klammer 11-1
5 ran. Dist: 10, ¾

Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile 1m
1 White Moonstone (Saeed bin Suroor) Frankie Dettori 4-5f
2 Together 5-1.
5 ran. Dist: nk, 1

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 1m
1 Poet's Voice (Saeed bin Suroor) Frankie Dettori 9-2
2 Rip Van Winkle 11-4
3 Red Jazz 40-1
Dist: ns, ½

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