Frankie goes eight clear in title race

FRANKIE DETTORI strengthened his grip on the jockeys’ championship when a 14-1 double took his seasonal total to 171 at Windsor yesterday.

The ever-popular Italian took advantage of Kieren Fallon's one-day suspension to stretch his lead over the reigning champion to eight.

Dettori initiated his brace when he made the most of a rare ride for Mark Johnston to get 3-1 favourite Hanseatic League home in the EBF Maiden Stakes.

He doubled up half an hour later when Con Horgan's Belle Rouge (11-4) obliged in the Morelli Classified Stakes.

But Dettori could potentially suffer a damaging blow to his title hopes later in the month as he is due to ride at both the Breeders' Cup and Melbourne Cup.

"Basically, I will have to leave on Friday (October 29), so I will miss Friday and Saturday of the Breeders' Cup, and then I am probably going on to the Melbourne Cup so it means I will miss Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday but I'll be back for Wednesday at Musselburgh (November 3)," he told At The Races.

"Nevertheless, I will need to be at least double figures in front. I'm hoping Kieren gets some rides at the Breeders' Cup so we'll be evenly matched then.

"If I can leave here double figures in front then great.

"We still have a few horses to run and I'll be giving it my best shot but 'The Assassin' is hard to beat and he is going to push me right to the wire."