Frankie earns his holiday
Frankie Dettori rides in Rome on Sunday before going on holiday to Dubai having reached a century of winners in Britain for the 10th time in his career on Rendezvous Point at Lingfield on Thursday.
The Italian had to work hard to get the John Gosden-trained juvenile up by a head from 8-1 shot Pergolacha in the EBF Bet Direct on 0800 32 93 93 Maiden Stakes.
Despite being off the bridle before turning into the straight, Dettori did not let up on the Kingmambo filly, who was returned the 5-2 favourite.
Dettori rode a 6-1 double aboard Darting and Sentry at the Surrey track on Wednesday leaving him one short of his ton.
Dettori celebrated his feat by making his usual flying dismount and then spraying the crowd with champagne provided by Arena, the track’s owners.
“I am so relieved that is over,” said Dettori. “I had visions of going through today and not doing it, then having to go to Wolverhampton on a Saturday night to get there.
“When Mr Gosden told me he was coming here I knew he must have fancied his filly a bit, and she did it well. Now it will be a holiday for my family and I in Dubai.
“It is great to have done it with the help of the trainer, a great friend, as is the filly’s owner, George Strawbridge, as well.
“Although this has not been a vintage year for me it has ended up all right. We started off well in Dubai and then there were the highlights of Mamool and Carry On Katie.
“After Dubai I will be coming back to ride in Hong Kong.”
Gosden said: “Frankie rode a great race on Rendezvous Point. He looked after her beautifully on her first run under a lovely hand ride.
“She is a big scopey girl and has held her coat well just lately. That will be enough for her now. She will be put away for next season.”
It was Dettori’s first 100 since 1999, and he said: “The breaks between the tons was due to the plane crash I suffered and several other things, but it is good to get there again.”
Owner Erik Penser was another to hit 100, when his Compton Banker and Compton Eclaire gave the owner a double.
Compton Banker took the first division of the betdirect.co.uk New Site Handicap in the hands of Shane Kelly while Compton Eclaire landed the Bet Direct On Channel 4 Page 613 Claiming Stakes by a head from Landescent.
Both horses are trained by Gerard Butler and his assistant, Tim Jones, said: “That should have given him back his confidence as he is high enough in the handicap. It was good to see him pick up like he did to beat Sir Laughalot.
“As for Compton Eclaire, she ran out of her skin. She had a nice bit of form early on, but then lost it. Now with a visor, she’s come good.”
Kelly went on to complete a 103-1 double in the second leg of the betdirect.co.uk New Site Handicap on the Michael Dods-trained Mr Bountiful.
Also in double form was Dane O’Neill, who collected a 63-1 brace with Richard Hannon’s Red Spell in division two of the EBF Bet Direct on 0800 329393 Maiden Stakes and James Fanshawe’s Phrenologist in the Bet Direct Attheraces Maiden Stakes, who had a neck to spare over Salon Prive.
Red Spell, who was making his debut, beat Bienvenue by two lengths and afterwards Hannon said: “That will have taught him a lot.”
O’Neill added: “Every time I asked him to, he quickened again.”
