Dettori Conquers Final Two Thousand Guineas

Just as Coronation day was threatening to end up a damp squib on the Rowley Mile, Frankie Dettori came riding to the rescue May 6 as Chaldean  powered through rain-softened ground to win the Two Thousand Guineas (G1). 

Riding in the Newmarket Classic for the 29th and final time of an unrivalled career, Dettori kept things wonderfully simple, sitting close to the pace, kicking for home early, and never looking likely to be challenged once he had seen off the attention of 125-1 shot Hi Royal  in second. 

For perhaps the first time since he arrived in Newmarket almost 40 years ago, words threatened to fail Dettori in the winner's enclosure. Knowing this would be his final Two Thousand Guineas, a race he has won at his local track on three previous occasions, was clearly hard to process, while the fact it had ended in such a decisive triumph left him asking if it was really happening.

"Am I dreaming?" said the 52-year-old, who will hang up his saddle at the end of the year. "It's so surreal and feels like a dream. Emotionally, to win my last Two Thousand Guineas, it's amazing."

Not only will Chaldean be remembered as the horse who won the Two Thousand Guineas on the same day as the coronation of King Charles, he will also carry the rare distinction of winning a Classic after unseating his rider on his previous start. 

Dettori, who will bid for a 23rd British Classic aboard Lezoo  in the May 7 One Thousand Guineas, looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry when slipping from the saddle shortly after the start in the Greenham Stakes and, while the outcome could not have been more different on this occasion, the rider was again teetering between tears and laughter.  

"To cap off my last season with a Classic is beyond my wildest dreams, especially after what happened at Newbury last time," said Dettori. "My emotions are all over the place. I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or enjoy it. I'm so messed up at the moment—let me soak it all in.

"I was in a fight with Oisin (Murphy, rider of Hi Royal) and once I got rid of him I was sure something was going to come out of the pack. All I could see was daylight and I couldn't believe it was happening to me. To win my last Guineas in front of my home crowd is amazing." 

Chaldean's victory secured winning trainer Andrew Balding a second Two Thousand Guineas in four years after Kameko 's win in 2020 but, like the rest of Newmarket, Dettori was at the front of his mind.  

"What a brilliant ride," said Balding, overcome with emotion after Kameko's win but much more coherent this time. "Ever since I've been involved in the sport he's been an omnipresent superstar of the sport and what a fitting way to end his last 2,000 Guineas. 

"What happened at Newbury was a concern beforehand but it still did him some good because he got out there. He always looked to be travelling comfortably today and I was just a bit worried about getting past Oisin as he can get extra lengths out of horses. Once we collared him I was fairly confident. 

"How lucky am I that the first yearling Juddmonte sent me was Chaldean. Hopefully he's the first of many."

While not discounting tackling 1 1/4 miles at some stage this season, both Balding and Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon were happy to point the way to Royal Ascot and the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) over a mile next, with Paddy Power making him the 4-5 favorite for Ascot's Group 1 June 20.  

"It's a special day for Juddmonte," said Mahon. "He was good last year but jeez, he's better this year. It was a great training performance and a great ride. Frankie has been such a phenomenal figure for so many years and to be part of this is incredible. 

"Chaldean is a son of Frankel, a Group-1 winning two-year-old and a Classic-winning three-year-old. You can't get much better than that and I think he'll go for the St James's Palace next."

Victory for Dettori at his final Royal Ascot would be something for the sport to savor, just like victory in his final Two Thousand Guineas was. It might have rained all day but, when it comes to Dettori, every cloud has a silver lining.