THREE-time British champion jockey Frankie Dettori walked out of Royal Ascot for the final time as a rider last Saturday with 81 winners to his name following four more successes during the course of the five days (from 25 rides).

The 52-year-old may not have been able to match Ryan Moore’s tally of six wins and earn himself an eighth leading jockey’s title at the meeting, but it brought down the curtain on a magnificent career at the fixture nevertheless. The Italian had his first ride at Royal Ascot in 1987, partnered his first winner on Markofdistinction in the 1990 Queen Anne Stakes, and rode in his first Ascot Gold Cup in 1991 when finishing second aboard the Luca Cumani-trained Arzanni before going one better the following year when steering Drum Taps to the first of his two wins in the week’s showpiece event.