Furious Frankie Dettori warns ‘I’ve got my lawyers on it’ after being banned from big race
FRANKIE DETTORI has warned racing’s chiefs ‘I’ve got my lawyers on it’ after they banned him from a big race.
The world’s most famous jockey, 52, picked up a nine-day ban for his controversial ride on the King’s horse Saga at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
Stewards said Dettori, who cut up a rival early on and caused a domino effect through other runners, ‘severely’ hampered rivals.
His ban means he misses the big ride on 6-4 Coral-Eclipse favourite Emily Upjohn on July 8.
Dettori’s suspension kicks in on July 4 and ends on July 12, with the big Sandown Group 1 coming slap bang in the middle of his forced exile.
Dettori, who finally landed his first winner of this Royal Ascot on Wednesday evening, said he had been hard done by.
ROYAL ASCOT BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET RACING DEALS
ROYAL ASCOT LIVE – ALL THE LATEST ON EVERY RACE
Speaking of appealing the ban, he said: “I’ve got my lawyers on it and I’m sad that I’m missing Emily, but it’s one of those things.
“I’m glad nobody got hurt and nobody fell.
“It’s that point of the race where you go into a bottleneck, especially when the false rail is out and we all got together and hampered McDonald.
“If there is room to appeal, we will, but I’m not going to do it to waste everyone’s time.”
John Gosden, who trains Emily Upjohn, the horse Dettori won the Coronation Cup on at this month’s Epsom, reckons his jockey has to appeal.
He said: “I think the penalty is severe and it would be fair enough if that was looked at.
“None of those stewards have ever ridden out of that mile-and-a-quarter gate here when they’re going hard.
“They’re pushing in, trying to get up the inner, trying to go here and there coming across from the outside.
“It’s brutal and that’s why I feel the mile-and-a-quarter gate here is very bad.
“It’s straight to the elbow and bend and I think it was a severe decision.
“I always look at that gate and think, for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, I hope it’s a small field – it’s the same with the Champion Stakes.”
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org