Frankie Dettori's Winning Year at York...

A former champion apprentice and champion jockey, the ebullient Italian star triumphed in the York version of the Top Jockey title this year; for an award supported by Moss Bros, Frankie had a smart season on Knavesmire, as we recall below….

ripleycollection.com Stakes (Handicap) (Class 4)
Friday 19th May 2006

WINNING HORSE: Swan Queen 5/1
WINNING OWNER: Sir Thomas Pilkington
WINNING BREEDER: Sir Thomas Pilkington
WINNING TRAINER: J. Dunlop
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: hd, 6l, 13l
SWAN QUEEN had not been let in lightly for her handicap debut judged on the bare form of the Folkestone maiden she had been awarded, but she proved she is a good deal better than that, held up before coming through to lead entering the final two furlongs and just getting the better of a sustained duel with the runner-up. She had to survive a stewards' inquiry herself this time, having betrayed her inexperience by wandering and seeming to interfere with the second, but she is the type to continue to improve.

Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup (Group 2)
Tuesday 22nd August 2006

WINNING HORSE: Sergeant Cecil 11/4f
WINNING OWNER: Terry Cooper
WINNING BREEDER: D E Hazzard
WINNING TRAINER: B R Millman
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: ½l, 5l, 4l

They went a decent gallop which suited SERGEANT CECIL, who had met trouble in running in the Goodwood Cup on his previous start and showed his true colours here, held up in rear, ridden over two furlongs out but staying on well under pressure to lead inside the final furlong.
He had not enjoyed the success of 2005 that made him “horse of the year” previously this term but he had been facing much stiffer opposition than last season and he is clearly a very smart stayer with a liking for York.

£300000 St Leger Yearling Stakes (Class 2)
Thursday 24th August 2006

WINNING HORSE: Doctor Brown
WINNING OWNER: J S Threadwell
WINNING BREEDER: Lostford Manor Stud
WINNING TRAINER: B J Meehan
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: 1½l, nk, ¾l

DOCTOR BROWN travelled really well in a prominent position from the off and threatened to win decisively when going on over 1f out but he tied up inside the final 1f, edged right - interfering with the third - and scored less impressively than had appeared likely, driven out. He had also travelled well for a long way over 7f at Ascot the time before and this drop in trip has suited him - he clearly has plenty of speed, and equally clearly he is a gelding with plenty of ability, who may well come on again after just three career outings.



Ladbrokes Mallard Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2)
Friday 8th September 2006

WINNING HORSE: Sunday Symphony 4/1
WINNING OWNER: Godolphin
WINNING BREEDER: Darley Stud
WINNING TRAINER: Saeed Bin Suroor
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: 5l, 2½ l, 10l

This looked a competitive handicap on paper but was won in easy style by SUNDAY SYMPHONY. He had been gelded since last season and had returned with a solid effort at Chester 13 days prior and stepped up significantly on that effort. He was held up in the early stages but made smooth progress to track the leaders in the final mile and had the race sewn up when taken wide and sent on towards the middle of the track 3f out. He still showed a few signs of quirkiness but clear has plenty of ability.



GNER Doncaster Cup (Group 2) (Class 1)
Friday 8th September 2006
WINNING HORSE: Sergeant Cecil 1/1f
WINNING OWNER: Terry Cooper
WINNING BREEDER: D E Hazzard
WINNING TRAINER: B R Millman
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: 1l, 2½l, 1¼l

Another highlight in the career of SERGEANT CECIL, last year's Horse of the Year, who can only have added to his fan-club this season. Here, hot on the heels of his course win in last month's Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup, he produced yet another heart-warming display. Held up as usual, he made steady headway from five furlongs out and was produced to lead over a furlong out. He went to his right after going on, but, given a few reminders to keep him up to his work, he was never going to be caught. Second to Millenary in this race last year, he more than deserved to one better here; and has since confirmed his class by giving Frankie another Group One in France.


GNER Park Stakes (Group 2)
Saturday 9th September 2006
WINNING HORSE: Iffraaj 4/6f
WINNING OWNER: Godolphin
WINNING BREEDER: Darley Stud
WINNING TRAINER: Saeed Bin Suroor
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: ¾ l, nk, 1¼l

A fascinating race for this Group 2 contest, which fell to IFFRAAJ, for whom the drying ground was in his favour.
Having taken the lead in a race full of potential pacesetters, the winner might well have benefited from being taken along a stride quicker through the early stages. That said, he picked up in willing style when asked to go about his business and answered Dettori's every call inside the last to win this race for the second successive year.
An eye-catching individual, he also has equal measures of class and courage. The Breeders' Cup Mile is his main objective this autumn.



Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes (Group 1)
Saturday 9th September 2006
WINNING HORSE: Sixties Icon 11/8f
WINNING OWNER: Mrs Susan Roy
WINNING BREEDER: Lordship Stud
WINNING TRAINER: J Noseda
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: 2½ l, 1l, hd

A first Classic success for Jeremy Noseda and a fourth for Frankie as SIXTIES ICON lived up to his pre-race billing with a performance of compelling class.
He has emerged as a most progressive individual and his smooth success in the Gordon Stakes had underlined that potential, but he has obviously gone on from that and few Classics are won in such breathtaking style.
He had been settled off the pace but once entering the straight he made his progress easily and his jockey was straining his neck muscles checking the whereabouts of the eventual third as he travelled strongly on the bridle inside the final three furlong. Three looks back and a glance left told those who had stayed loyal to the favourite that he had all his rival cooked and when unleashed inside the final furlong he quickened in style to win comfortably.
He may not yet be the finished article and could well improve further.

Grahame Stowe Bateson Family Law Unit Strensall Stakes (Group 3)
Saturday 9th September 2006
WINNING HORSE: Echo of Light 5/2f
WINNING OWNER: Godolphin
WINNING BREEDER: Kilcarn Stud
WINNING TRAINER: Saeed Bin Suroor
WINNING JOCKEY: L.Dettori
DISTANCES: 2½ l, 1¾l, 2½ l

ECHO OF LIGHT, who did much of the donkey-work in the Sussex Stakes before fading, found this company more to his liking and ran his rivals ragged under a well-judged and skilful ride.
A keen-going horse, he was restrained in front by Dettori, who sat motionless on him, steadily increasing the tempo, until inside the final two furlongs. Once he said 'go' the response was immediate and he ran on strongly to keep his pursuers at bay comfortably. The partnership added a Group Two in Paris to the season totals.

TSG Stakes
Friday 6th October 2006
WINNING HORSE: ARMY OF ANGELS 5/2
OWNER: Godolphin
BREEDER: Gerard Callanan
TRAINER: Saeed Bin Suroor
A decent prize on offer and a fairly decisive winner in ARMY OF ANGELS, who followed up his recent Newmarket success in good fashion. Always travelling smoothly, he went to the front under hand riding and only needed a token wave or two of the whip towards the finish to make this prize his own. He carried a 6lb penalty here, but he goes up a further 5lb from today. That said, he looks progressive, healthy and, as this win proved, he stays 1m.

Sawfish Software EBF Maiden Stakes
Friday 6th October 2006
WINNING HORSE: KAFUU 5/2f
OWNER: Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar
BREEDER: J Hanly
TRAINER: J Noseda
There was plenty to like about the debut performance of KAFUU. Not only did he travel smoothly for a debutante on this testing ground, but he strode away to win in the style of a potentially useful colt. A well-grown individual, he has plenty of scope, and he looks an interesting three-year-old prospect.