UAE: Frankie Dettori will have to forfeit a portion of the prize-money he collected for his winning ride on Country Grammer in the Dubai World Cup after he was fined AED50,000 ($13,600) for breaking the whip rules.
Dettori clinched a record-equalling fourth victory in the $12 million dirt spectacular after Country Grammer stayed on in the Meydan straight to reel in favourite Life Is Good with 100 metres to run and defeat Hot Rod Charlie and Chuwa Wizard by a length and three-quarters and a half-length.
However, according to the Emirates Racing Authority stewards report, Dettori was found to have used his whip excessively and struck the Bob Baffert-trained winner 13 times.
The report said: “Jockey L Dettori (COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA)) was fined AED 50,000 u
nder the provisions of ERA Rule 69B(a) for using the whip to excess, in that he used it on 13 occasions. In assessing the penalty Stewards noted that today’s event was a Group 1 race worth US$12million and that he won the race.”
Country Grammer, who raced in the Medina Spirit colours of Amr Zedan, collected a first prize of $7.5m with the winning jockey receiving a10% cut, which means $750,000.
The 51-year-old Dettori won his first Dubai World Cup on the Godolphin superstar Dubai Millennium in 2000, adding further success on Moon Ballad (2003) and Electrocutionist (2006).
“I have equalled Jerry Bailey now,” he said after the race. “All my other three wins came on the Nad Al Sheba track so it's nice to have a winner at Meydan.
“When the draw came out, I had just wanted to put him on the fence. At the half-mile, I wasn't able to keep on with the front two but in the end they came back to me. At the furlong pole, it was surreal as I knew I was going to win. It's just unbelievable. It's like a dream!”
• Visit the Dubai Racing Club website
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