Frankie Dettori jets in for showdown talks with John Gosden TODAY about whether or not he still has a job

FRANKIE DETTORI jetted off to Sardinia to be with his dad amid the fallout from being axed off key rides by trainer John Gosden.

But on his return today he is in showdown talks with the legendary trainer about whether or not he still has a job.

Instagram

Dettori posted this photo alongside his father Gianfranco after flying back to Sardinia[/caption]

Getty

Gosden and Dettori are set for showdown talks over their future on Friday morning[/caption]

Gosden’s decision to replace Dettori, 51, on horses he usually rides this weekend has sent shockwaves through the sport.

It comes on the back of Dettori’s nightmare aboard Stradivarius in the stayer’s quest for a record-equalling fourth Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last week.

And Dettori getting turned over on the Queen’s odds-on fav – and best chance of a winner – Reach For The Moon during the same week.

The iconic Italian was a runaway winner on superstar filly Inspiral in the Coronation Stakes for Team Gosden.

But that only slightly softened the blow on a week that promised so much but resulted in just one victory for the king of the course.

In Dettori’s book Leap, he often writes of how he retreats to Sardinia during tough times to get away from it all and reset.

In 2017 he jetted off there to recover from an injury that saw him abandon his Royal Ascot book of rides.

And in his book he wrote about an occasion in 2003 when, after making £500,000 in two hours from racing in Dubai, he went onto endure a ‘crap, crap, crap summer’.

He said ‘everything I touch turns to s***’ as more of his rides seem to go to Jamie Spencer.

It’s during this time he says again he goes to Sardinia to have a ‘heart-to-heart’ with his dad.

Dettori said: “For all the strife between us sometimes, he’s the one guy I really need to talk to at times like this.”

It can be seen as significant, then, that Dettori posted on Instagram a photo alongside his father Gianfranco.

Bookies think Hollie Doyle – a French Classic winner aboard Nashwa for Gosden last Sunday – is nailed on to replace Dettori as Gosden’s No1.

Coral‘s David Stevens said: “We don’t yet know when the Gosdens might need to appoint a new retained jockey, but when that time comes, Hollie Doyle appears to be in pole position to fill the role.”

James Doyle gets the ride on Sunray Major – a horse Dettori has ridden all but once – in the 3.15 at Newmarket tomorrow.

While Gosden’s normal No2 Rab Havlin has been booked for Stowell.

Dettori’s only ride on Saturday will be aboard 5-1 Lezoo in the 2.05 at Newmarket.

Gosden told the Racing Post on Friday morning: “Frankie was in Italy for a wedding in the week before Royal Ascot.

“Obviously he was at Ascot all last week and he then went to Sardinia after racing on the Saturday.

“I assume he will be back in the UK today when I will be able to see him for a meeting.”

Dettori’s manager Peter Burrell admitted he and the jockey were ‘in the dark’ about Gosden’s decision to axe him.

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