Lanfranco’ Frankie’ Dettori, the most successful jockey in the history of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has ridden over 250 Group One wins in his career, including a personal record seventeen wins in 2019. Indeed, Dettori had ridden in every renewal of Europe’s most valuable Race except in 2013 when a broken ankle sustained in a fall at Nottingham four days before the Race prevented him from riding Treve, an impressive winner of the Race in that year
Has Frankie Dettori ever won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe ? YES, SIX TIMES – Dettori won his maiden Race riding Lammtara, the unbeaten Cartier Three-year-old of the Year trained for Godolphin by Saeed bin Suroor after the untimely loss of his previous trainer, Alex Scott. His second and third victories came on two additional Godolphin purchases, Sakhee in 2001 and Marienbard in 2002, trained by Saeed bin Suroor.
However, after leaving Godolphin a decade later, Dettori had to wait until 2015 to ride his fourth ‘Arc’ triumph. That year, he won the Cartier Horse of the Year, Golden Horn, with his old friend John Gosden, and in 2017 and 2018, he won back-to-back races on Enable for the same trainer. In Chantilly, Frankie Dettori won his sixth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the John Gosden-trained Enable.
Frankie Dettori – Six Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Wins including Comments
❖ Lammtarra – 1995
In 1995 Dettori’s maiden victory in the Race was on the gifted Lammtarra. Saeed Bin Suroor’s three-year-old entered the event undefeated, winning the Singer Stakes as a two-year-old before winning the Derby and King George. The 21-10 favourite for the Race, the stable was very confident going into the Race.
He jumped well under Dettori, and the Italian put him on the front foot early, where he sat behind long-time leader Luso. Lammtarra sailed up to the leader as they reached the home bend and seemed to be on their way to a resounding victory. However, the challenges arrived thick and fast, with Freedom Cry nearly running him down on the outside. Dettori kept Lammtarra on the rail, and after a thrilling struggle in the straight, the duo triumphed over Freedom Cry, with Swain finishing third.
❖ Sakhee – 2001
Dettori had to wait another six years for his second victory in the Race, but it was well worth the wait when he triumphed with Bin Suroor’s Sakhee. The four-year-old had only raced twice for his new trainer, but he had made a big impression, winning the Juddmonte by seven lengths in his last appearance before the Arc. After that stellar performance, he was installed as the 11-5 favourite for the Race, and if you’d had a bet on the budding superstar, you wouldn’t have been disappointed.
Sakhee jumped well from the gates despite a wide draw in stall fifteen. Dettori swiftly moved him across to settle on the outside in the middle of the field. Throughout the Race, the four-year-old seemed to be moving very smoothly, with Dettori having to keep a tight hold on him. Dettori and Sakhee closed down on the lead, and as they entered the straight and when Dettori let go of the handbrake. Sakhee put the Race to bed in a couple of strides, charging away to finish in stunning isolation, winning by six lengths.
❖ Marienbad – 2002
Dettori didn’t have to wait long for his third victory in the event, as he returned to Longchamp with Bin Suroor’s Marienbad to win again only a year later. Despite winning two Group 1 races in Germany before the event, the duo were not considered favourites this time, with Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby winner High Chaparral sent out as the bookmakers’ favourite. However, the price didn’t matter since Dettori buried Marienbard against the rail for most of the Race.
As the runners approached the two hundred metre marker, High Chaparral and Sulamani seemed to be ready to battle the line, but Dettori had timed his challenge well and cut through the field to lead in the last 100 metres and run out a clear winner. Hot favourite High Chaparral finished third – he would finish third again the following year – while Sulamani stormed home down the outside into second.
❖ Golden Horn – 2015
Golden Horn had won the Derby, Eclipse, and Irish Champion Stakes, and Dettori had a challenging ride with the pair drawn out in stall 14. Rather than bringing Golden Horn over to the rest of the field, Dettori jumped well and elected to explore a solitary route deep on the track to save energy. He gradually made his way across the field, settling in second place with little effort.
The three-year-old tugged Dettori’s arms out throughout the Race, and he was given the go-ahead as they hit the straight. The ship had sailed, with Golden Horn answering every one of Dettori’s questions and building up a commanding lead on the rail. He continued galloping strongly all the way to the line to win well.
❖ Enable – 2017 & 2018
Enable confirmed her status as a superstar in 2017 with one of Dettori’s most spectacular Arc victories. The Race was held in Chantilly this year because of Longchamp’s renovations, but Gosden’s filly proved unafraid of the narrower course.
Dettori and Enable trailed the leaders throughout the Race, with the filly moving well. Dettori once again rode a superb race, always having Enable in the optimum position to strike as the field entered the straight.
Gosden’s filly stormed free in a handful of strides, exhibiting a devastating turn of speed as Enable was angled out to make her challenge around two furlongs from the finish. Her competitors were always running for second place as Enable cruised to an easy victory in Group 1.
Dettori then won his sixth Race and Enable’s second when the duo returned to win the double a year later. With just one Race at Kempton beforehand, there were many doubts about Enable’s ability to win the Arc after a far from flawless preparation. She proved her naysayers wrong once again, but only barely.
As the field approached the home straight, Dettori started to work on Enable, who began to accelerate. As Dettori took the lead aboard Enable, James Doyle and Sea Of Class attempted to weave their way through the pack. They were neck and neck coming down to the wire, with Dettori and Enabled stretching their necks out to keep the younger challenger at bay.
Frankie Dettori – A Legend amongst Men
Lanfranco “Frankie” Dettori MBE has been Champion Jockey in the United Kingdom on three occasions, including twenty winners of the English classics, with his most notable achievement riding all seven winners on British Champions’ Day at Royal Ascot in 1996. If you add his unprecedented six winners of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, it’s not difficult to see why he is considered a true Legend amongst Men!