Dettori hits landmark on brilliant Dabirsim

Frankie Dettori secured his 500th career Group-race winner as Dabirsim produced an electric turn of foot to win the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp.

Dettori settled Christophe Ferland’s exciting colt well in the rear behind a frantic early pace set by Italian raider Salure.

With just a furlong left to run Dabirsim had at least 10 lengths to make up, but Dettori got a dream run up the rail as his partner maintained an unbeaten record in the manner of a top-class colt.

The Freddie Head-trained Sofast was another to make good late headway and finished second.

Dettori said: “It’s unbelievable to ride 500 Group winners, it’s an astonishing number so it’s a big, big moment for me, and I’ve been very lucky to ride some very good horses.”

He added of the winner: “He will definitely make a Guineas horse, without a doubt. He’s a superstar. When the gap came he took it, he was electric.

“He’s the best two-year-old I have ridden. He’s got tremendous pace and a great finish.”

Stan James cut Dabirsim to 8-1 from 10-1 for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Ferland said: ``Frankie was playing with my nerves a bit!

“He was six or eight lengths behind at the furlong post, but he’s got a lot of speed and he quickened well to get back into the race.

“We haven’t decided about next year. He’ll be entered in the French and English Guineas.

“He can run on a straight course or around a bend so it doesn’t matter.”