Dettori back in the old routine
Frankie Dettori ended his search for success when Gavroche landed a gamble in the toteplacepot Handicap in front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd at Epsom.
Since returning to the saddle on Friday after an injury-enforced eight-week absence, the reigning champion jockey had gone 16 rides without a winner.
But the wait was over when Dettori, who went on to complete a 31-1 double 35 minutes later, brought the Jim Boyle-trained Gavroche (9-1 to 6-1) through to land the spoils by a length and a half from the fast-finishing Blue Torpedo.
“What a relief!” beamed Dettori, after performing a flying dismount to the delight of his fans. “Two and a half months without a winner is a long time to wait.
“I was trying too hard yesterday and I got a silly suspension on Halle-Bop. But my dad gave me a right good rollicking and that sorted me out.”
Having found the winning touch, Dettori was soon at it again in the JRA Conditions Stakes as Etesaal just got the best of a head-to-head tussle with Big Bad Bob.
Once again, the crowd rushed to the winner’s enclosure to get a glimpse of the Italian, who was treated more like a film star than a jockey as he was apprehended for autographs and photos throughout the afternoon.
And Dettori did not fail to disappoint his followers with his brace being secured by a head.
Epsom’s annual opportunity for the amateurs to shine left 30-year-old Frenchman Mehdi Lesage taking centre stage as he gave 33-1 chance Bollin Thomas a fine ride to take the Tompkins & May Amateur Derby.
More accustomed to riding in cross-country events near his home in the west coast town of Pornichet, Lesage took the ups and downs of the Derby course like an old hand.
With Jidiya setting off like a scalded cat in front, the fierce pace meant few of the 12 runners managed to get involved.
But it was Bollin Thomas who came through to lead inside the final furlong and beat Flying Spirit by a length and a quarter.
Favourite Topkat, who was set a tremendous amount to do from the rear, made late gains to take third place.
For winning trainer Dick Allan, victory made a tortuous seven-hour horsebox journey down from his Borders base totally worthwhile.
“We set off at 5am and we were making good progress until we hit the M25 and got stuck for two hours when it was closed because of an accident,” he explained. “I very nearly decided to turn around but the horse is a good traveller and he took it all well.
“As Arthur Stephenson used to say, they’re better in their own box with their own food and water than stuck in a strange place somewhere.
“I bought him last month at the sales after Peter Easterby recommended him to me. He only cost 7,500 guineas but I hadn’t been able to find a buyer for him so he’s still mine at the moment.
“He ought to go hurdling over the winter and he’s still for sale to stay in the yard.
“I was going to run him over hurdles at Perth the other day but the ground was too firm so I quickly entered him for this.
“When we got round to sorting out jockeys, there were only two left – him and the German fellow who rode the second.
“When I was giving him his instructions through the interpreter I told him not to bother coming back if he got beaten and I think the interpreter took it a bit literally! But it didn’t matter because he did the job.”
Texas Gold followed up a recent Haydock success as he defied his highest-ever handicap mark to take the toteexacta Sprint in a quick time.
The Willie Muir-trained seven-year-old has proved a real moneyspinner for connections in past seasons and this was the gelding’s 14th career success.
As always, Texas Gold needed to find the breaks at the right time as he wove a path through the pack under Martin Dwyer.
But the race could hardly have gone more smoothly and the 4-1 joint-favourite led 100 yards out to beat Cape Royal by half a length, while the fast-finishing Bond City snatched third place from Tournedos in a photo.
Texas Gold has the option of going to Doncaster for the Tote Portland Handicap next week, but Muir said he was leaning towards stepping his charge up to Listed company for the Scarbrough Stakes at the same meeting.
“He’ll get a 6lb penalty for this which might be a lot to ask,” he said. “There aren’t many horses who can win a handicap off a mark of more than 100 so I think this was a serious performance.
“He is good enough to win a Group race, we just need to find the right one for him.
“He seems to come to himself at this time of the year but the important thing is he likes racing, he likes the life, even though he’s a bit of a boy.
“Dandy (Nicholls) would like him, I’ll tell you that. He keeps asking me if he’s for sale. But he’s been a good servant to the yard – we’ve had him since he was a yearling – and he’s not going anywhere.”
Nicholls had been on the mark earlier when Onlytime Will Tell defied negative vibes to take the claimer under Ian Mongan.
Swan Maiden had showed plenty of guts to outbattle King’s Fantasy for victory in the opening EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes.
The 11-2 winner was joined and marginally headed by Richard Quinn and the runner-up just inside the final furlong.
But gamely responding to Shane Kelly’s urgings with the whip, Swan Maiden battled back to put his head in front for a short-head victory.
