USA: Frankie Dettori wasted no time making his mark as he began his farewell tour at Santa Anita on Boxing Day with a high-profile treble in front of a bumper crowd, who were treated to a flying dismount after he scored on Dubai World Cup hero Country Grammer.
Earlier this month, 52-year-old Dettori shocked the racing world by announcing that he will retire at the end of 2023.
The great entertainer leaves the stage, leaving us wanting more – Steve Dennis on Frankie Dettori
He had already pledged to a winter stint at Santa Anita, where he partnered three winners from six mounts on Monday’s showpiece card, headed by an emphatic 4½-length success in the G2 San Antonio Stakes on Bob Baffert-trained Country Grammer.
For once, however, Dettori was outdone as Baffert trained five winners altogether on the showpiece 11-race card, including a G1 double via Taiba in the Malibu Stakes and Fun To Dream in the La Brea.
An official crowd figure of 41,446 represented Santa Anita’s biggest attendance for six years. After finishing down the field on an outsider on his first ride, Dettori landed the $200,000 San Antonio, the sixth race of the day, on Country Grammer.
He then completed a treble on his next two rides with a pair of allowance-race wins on the turf via La Deuxieme Etoile (for trainer Doug O’Neill) and Coolmore-owned Ballet Dancing (Simon Callaghan).
Speaking to TVG, Dettori admitted he had been feeling a few butterflies before riding Country Grammer.
“The pressure is on,” he said. “I’m here for 10 weeks and to ride straight away on the first day, I felt it a bit. But once he had the race won at the furlong marker I was able to enjoy the crowd. They were all screaming.”
Sent off 3-5 favourite, Country Grammer was winning for the first time since the Dubai World Cup. Four wide at the first turn, he attended the pace before taking command on the far turn and easily handling his rivals for a decisive victory from Stilleto Boy.
The five-year-old is now set to return to the Middle East for another crack at the $20m Saudi Cup, where he was second to locally trained Emblem Road in February, before defending his crown at Meydan.
"Bob was very confident,” added Dettori on TVG. “Drawing six is actually good for him because at least I can move whenever I want.
“He’s a tough horse and you’ve got to put it up to them. You wouldn’t do that with another horse – send him at the three-eighths – but he’s got the lungs to take it and it just takes the rest out of their comfort zone.
“He won like a good horse and will have his air miles ready to go to the Middle East and race for a lot of money. It was an amazing comeback run.”
Baffert, who ran 14 horses on Monday’s card, was understandably delighted. "I'm happy for Frankie Dettori – I mean who better?” he said. “This is his last year and to have him on there and win a race like this. I can't believe the crowd today it's crazy, it's like a Breeders' Cup day."
Speaking of Country Grammer, Baffert added: “He’s the neatest, coolest horse and really brought us up when we were really down.”
• Visit the Santa Anita website
Japan hails new superstar as Equinox slams Arima Kinen rivals
Ol’ Border knew it was time’: farewell to the oldest known Secretariat, gone at 34
‘The hardest part is to stay where we are’ – major interview with Charlie Appleby
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires