Frankie Dettori commits to Melbourne Cup 2023

Fresh from his fairytale finish at his last Royal Ascot meeting, Frankie Dettori has confirmed he will have one final crack at winning the Melbourne Cup.

The legendary Italian jockey, who announced at the start of the year that 2023 would be his last after 35 years in the saddle, will ride on the final three days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Dettori has often nominated the Melbourne Cup as the one race yet to feature on his glittering CV that he would like to win before his career is out and he will be hoping it is 18th time lucky on November 7.

“I have achieved all there is to achieve in horse racing and have had a fantastic career, but the Lexus Melbourne Cup has always been one race that I would love to win,” Dettori said.

“I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne to ride at the carnival for one final time and hopefully I can finish my career with a Melbourne Cup win.”

Dettori took his Royal Ascot winners tally to 80 during last week’s five-day carnival, the highlight of which was Courage Mon Ami’s win in the Gold Cup – his ninth win in the week’s signature event.

This year marks 30 years since his first Melbourne Cup appearance, aboard Drum Taps, when he finished ninth in the race won by Vintage Crop.

His best results have been second placings aboard Central Park (1999) and Max Dynamite (2015), while he was also second over the line on Master Of Reality in 2019 before being relegated to fourth on protest.

Dettori, who is likely to be in the United States for the Breeders Cup meeting on Day 1 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, is also available for rides on VRC Oaks Day and Champions Day, November 9 and 11.

“Frankie Dettori is one of the best jockeys and personalities the sport has ever seen and the VRC look forward to giving him a fitting farewell at Flemington at the Melbourne Cup Carnival,” VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said.