Trawlerman gifts Dettori perfect start to final Champions Day

It has long been dubbed as Frankie Dettori’s farewell raceday in European and it was the man himself who kicked off in style, riding Trawlerman to victory in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.

That was nuts

Maxident, carrying the Amo Racing colours, set the pace and led the field early with just Dettori keeping close tabs. Maxident faded and Trawlerman and Dettori hit the front. The imposing Kyprios came knocking and soon passed the leader and it seemed as though the race was put to bed, but that was not to be.

The Italian galvanised his mount in the Godolphin colours to battle back and narrowly defeat the Aidan O’Brien favourite. Following the memorable victory, Dettori said: “That was nuts. Once he got back the crowd went crazy.”

“He was doing a bit too much and when Ryan [Moore, on Kyprios] came to me, I thought I’m a spent force. Then he didn’t get away from me and I felt I might have a little bit left here. He’s very gutsy and it’s amazing on my final day to beat one of the best jockeys in the world.”

Trawlerman’s trainer and long time ally of Dettori, John Gosden said; “”When he’s at his peak there’s no greater and he lets the crowd carry him. He operates on that enormous energy. He’s a fabulous talent but Alex Ferguson would’ve found him hard to manage at times. He is, without doubt, the most phenomenal jockey I’ve ever put on a horse and pound-for-pound the greatest.”