Gold medal puts Frankie back on top

Frankie Dettori gave Sheikh Mohammed a precise reminder of just why he has been employed as Godolphin’s stable jockey for almost 20 years by seeing off his would-be successor Mickael Barzalona in an outstanding finish for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

It was outlined that Dettori had been allowed to choose Colour Vision over Barzalona’s Opinion Poll by the Sheikh himself, and what must have proved a tricky decision was borne out in the staying championship with just half a length separating them.

While interference between the pair inside the final furlong would not have been deliberate, it was almost a literal display of fighting his corner as the celebrated Italian gave everything he had.