3 minute read
Bookmakers were given a warning of possible carnage when Frankie Dettori won the opening race at Royal Ascot today, the G2 Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs.
Dettori has a full book of rides on the card, and, at a course where in September 1996 he won all seven races, something similar would be enough to empty bookmakers' accounts.
His third winner at this year's Royal Meeting, and his 63rd at Royal Ascot, came on the Simon Crisford-trained A'Ali (5/1), who was bought by the Stroud Coleman Bloodstock agency for £135,000 in April at a breeze-up sale held at Doncaster.
The son of late stallion Society Rock was beaten on his first start at Ripon earlier this month, but made no mistake today, beating Ventura Rebel (16/1) and Dubai Station (14/1) by a neck and two and three-quarters of a length. Sunday Sovereign was the 13/8 favourite - he finished eighth of the 14 runners.
Dettori said: "I spent half of my 30 years in racing with Simon [when Crisford was racing manager to Godolphin and Dettori first jockey] - we've both gone our own ways and he's now training. This brings back some great memories and I'm really delighted. We're all family.
"I had an unbelievable ride and the horse travelled like a winner all the way. He pulled out and quickened, and it certainly made my life easy.
"A'Ali was travelling so good. He did everything so professionally, though he did idle a bit in front.
"I suspect Simon will back him up in the five-furlong race at Goodwood [Molecomb Stakes], as he has so much speed.
"The ground is riding good to soft."