Frankie Dettori No 2

[Lester]

Bizzarre but probably an explanation.

[flatman]

Bizzarre but probably an explanation.

JOCKEY Frankie Dettori has failed a drugs test for a banned substance — believed to be cocaine.

The three-times champ, 41, faces an inquiry after the shock at Longchamp, France.

Dettori — dubbed “the housewives’ favourite” because of his good looks — could face a worldwide horse-racing ban if he is found guilty.

The test happened on September 16 when the major trials for Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, were being held at Longchamp in France.

Dettori — tested at random and famed for his spectacular “flying dismount” after races — will be hauled before the notoriously strict French racing authorities next week.

If the hearing goes against him, the Italian could face a global ban of up to six months.

That would cost potential rides in the season’s first four Classics, covering the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas, The Oaks and The Derby.

A well-placed source said last night: “Frankie has failed a test for a banned substance which is thought to be cocaine. This is obviously very serious for him.”

[flatman]

In a statement on Wednesday evening, Dettori's solicitor Christopher Stewart-Moore said: "Following today's announcement by France Galop setting out the conclusions of their medical committee, Frankie Dettori would like to say that he accepts their conclusions without reservation.

"He is grateful to the medical committee for their time and in particular for listening to his explanation of his position.

"As to the suspension of his licence in France, this is something which he fully anticipated and has not in any event ridden since November 6 when he honoured a pre-existing commitment to ride in the Melbourne Cup.

"He can now confirm that until the matter is resolved by the Stewards of France Galop at a hearing within the next fortnight he will not be riding again anywhere.

"Once the stewards of France Galop make their decision he will make a full statement but is unable to do so until such time as that final decision is announced."

Dettori's decision not to ride at all means he will not have to seek any authorisation to compete in Britain, had he wished to do so.

Jamie Stier, Director of raceday operations and regulation for the British Horseracing Authority, said: "We have spoken to Frankie Dettori and his solicitor, and ascertained that he has no intention of riding in Britain between now and his hearing with France Galop.

"Should his plans change, he has been made aware that as he has been stood down by France Galop on medical grounds, he would be required to undertake a medical examination by the BHA Chief Medical Adviser before being permitted to ride in Britain."

[flatman]

Could be cack for the Oaks or Derby if he can get a ride

Frankie Dettori has been banned from riding for six months after testing positive for a prohibited substance, his legal representative Christopher Stewart-Moore said on Wednesday morning.
The three-times British champion jockey, 41, tested positive for a substance widely reported to have been cocaine following a routine test at Longchamp on September 16.

Dettori's suspension runs from November 20 to May 19 and is expected to be reciprocated by racing jurisdictions worldwide, including by the British Horseracing Authority.

Stewart-Moore said in a statement released to Press Association that Dettori "fully accepts" France Galop's decision to ban him for six months.

"France Galop have today announced their finding Frankie Dettori has committed a breach of their rules relating to prohibited substances," said Stewart-Moore.

"I have spoken to Frankie since the announcement was made and he has told me he fully accepts France Galop's decision.

"He also accepts that he has let down the sport he loves and all those associated with it, as well as the wider public.

"But most of all, and this is his greatest regret, he has let down his wife and children."

With the BHA set to reciprocate France Galop's suspension, the challenge Dettori had hoped to make towards the 2013 jockeys' championship title is now in tatters.

The Italian, who will be 42 on December 15, had four rides at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trials meeting on September 16, at which the positive sample was returned.

The case was then put before the medical commission of France Galop in Paris on November 20.

It was announced a day later that he was temporarily suspended from competing in France on medical grounds and his hearing concluded at France Galop's headquarters in Paris on Tuesday.

Dettori made the headlines recently when his 18-year association with powerful owners Godolphin came to an end, with the rider announcing that he now planned to operate as a freelance.

He partnered nine English Classic winners in the royal blue silks, including their first in 1994 Oaks victor Balanchine, and a total of 110 Group or Grade One winners for the owner.

A host of Dettori's big-race winners have been trained by Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor, including four of those that formed the rider's 'Magnificent Seven' at Ascot on September 28, 1996.

Dettori is not the first to fall foul of the French authorities, with Kieren Fallon banned six months by France Galop in 2006 after returning a positive test for a metabolite of a banned substance.

France Galop then suspended him a further 18 months after a second positive test in August 2007.

[Old Vic]

Frankie Dettori may find odds turn against him following six-month ban | Greg Wood | Sport | The Guardian

Rallying round is something that racing has always been good at, and when Frankie Dettori returns to race-riding next May after a six-month ban for taking a banned substance in "a moment of madness", there is no doubt that the support already pledged by trainers such as Brian Meehan, Jeremy Noseda and many others will arrive as promised.

And so it should, once Dettori has served his suspension, because as well as being an outstanding jockey, no individual has done more to keep racing in the public consciousness over the past 20 years. There have been times, in fact, like the day when he went through the card at Ascot in 1996, when Dettori has appeared to be doing so all by himself. Testing positive sets a poor example for the next generation of jockeys setting out on their weighing-room careers, but there can be no doubt that Dettori's account where racing is concerned is comfortably in credit.

But whether rallying round will be enough remains to be seen, and the success, or otherwise, of Dettori's attempt to re-establish himself as a regular player in the most important races could offer an interesting test of the old question about just how much difference the jockey really makes.

A brief glance through a few of Dettori's numbers from the past 20 years proves what an outstanding career it has been. In a dozen of the last 15 seasons, his strike rate over the course of the year has been at least 20%, and it has hit 24% twice since 2001. Only a jockey of the very highest quality and consistency can ride such a high percentage of winners over such an extended period.

But at the same time, this success is a testament to the strength of the Godolphin operation, which is sometimes criticised for failing to match Aidan O'Brien's return at Group One highest level, but is very good at placing the horses that it has in races they can win. And, as has been pointed out in this space many times in recent years, British form is currently as consistent as at any time in turf history, which is why a blind bet on the favourite in every race this year is showing a 93% return on turnover, better than any newspaper tipster in the business.

Historically, Dettori's strike rate has been exceptional, but he has also been on the best horse in the race as frequently, if not more so, than any other rider too. In 2012, however, as Mickaël Barzalona slowly eased him out of top spot at Godolphin with 176 rides for Mahmood al-Zarooni, including the St Leger winner, versus just 66 for Dettori, the Italian's overall strike rate dropped to just 13%.

Dettori will pick up plenty of rides once he returns, but there is likely to be a drop in the average quality of their chances. If he can return to a 20% strike rate, or anything like it, when he is riding 8-1 chances and second-strings, Dettori will have a fair claim to be the finest jockey that British racing has seen.

Great riders make the most of what they have, but no jockey can make a horse any better than it actually is. If Dettori's career fails to recover and he begins to drift towards the sidelines, his six-month ban may be seen as the start of his decline, but it may instead be just the most obvious symptom of a process that was already under way.

[flatman]

He is back