Feature Story

Soul Sister coasts to Oaks, Double for Dettori, Gosdens

Soul Sister coasts to Oaks, Double for Dettori, Gosdens Jun 2, 2023

By Duane Fonseca

Frankie Dettori could be tempted into reconsidering his decision to retire at the end of the year after the Italian made a dream start to the Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Friday.

Dettori, 52, announced last year he will hang up his riding gear at the end of 2023, making this a farewell season for the brilliant and feisty jockey, who won the Group 1 Epsom Oaks for the seventh time, 29 years after winning his first title with Godolphin’s Balanchine in 1994. Dettori could have made it seven last year, but John and Thady Gosdens’ Emily Upjohn only just ran out of ground in the British Classic a day shy of a year.

But in 80 minutes of pure ecstasy, Dettori enjoyed a Group 1 double, winning both the Oaks with Soul Sister, also trained by the Gosdens, and the Coronation Oaks with the aforementioned Emily Upjohn. It was a top-tier double for the Gosdens too.

In both, Dettori timed his ride to perfection, riding near identically and winning by an identical length and three fourths margin. The Oaks saw Dettori and Frankel filly Soul Sister, winner of the Group 3 Musidora Stakes on 17 May at York, linger last in the field of nine before extending fully to take up the running with a little over 200m left to run.

Once in front it was down to who would finish second, the spot eventually taken by a gritty Savethelastdance, trained by Aidan O’Brien and guided by Ryan Moore. A further head back in third was Caernarfon for Jack Channon and Connor Beasley.   

“That means a lot - seven Oaks winners. Lady Bamford is a big supporter of mine and in my last year that is my second Classic winner - unbelievable,” Dettori said.


“I have ridden two great fillies this afternoon - Emily Upjohn and this one. I just want to soak it in now!

“It was a bit messy at the beginning and I didn't want to go too wide. William (Buick, on Eternal Hope) stopped quickly and I had to go wide, but I kept her balanced and she did the rest.“When I passed them all I knew as I'd come from the back - I knew there was nobody behind me. You don't get many opportunities to celebrate like that - maybe with Snowfall who was 20 lengths clear - but all the owners are here and all the gang so to go home and say I've done a 100 percent  job is great.

“At the moment things are going well, but you can easily mess up in this game! Five months is a long time.”


SHARE