Last week’s big US meeting was lit up by a name familiar to UK racing fans. Based in the US since 2023, Frankie Dettori showed he still had what it takes at 54 years of age. Heading to Kentucky Downs for the prestigious four-day late summer fixture, the evergreen Italian stole the show with six wins from 18 rides, including a spectacular four-timer on the closing day.
Derby Delight for Dettori and the Gredleys
Having set the ball rolling with a maiden success on the opening day, Dettori grabbed his biggest result of the meeting in the $3.5 million Nashville Derby. In addition to the man in the saddle, the winning horse will also be familiar to those who have followed the 2025 flat season in the UK.
Going in the colours of the Gredley family and hailing from the yard of James Owen, Wimbledon Hawkeye had been tried at the highest level without success. Never finishing outside the first three in five starts as a juvenile, the son of Kameko picked up a win in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes and rounded out his campaign with a solid third in the Futurity Trophy.
This year brought a similar level of consistency, with four top three efforts from six outings and a respectable fifth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Last sighted going down by just a nose to Merchant in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, Wimbledon Hawkeye headed to Tennessee for his first overseas venture.
Drawn widest of all in stall 12, Frankie showed all his experience to gradually track across after the first bend and gain a handy position in fifth. Slipstreaming the leaders around the home turn, Dettori was the first to launch his challenge and hit the front with 1½ furlongs to go. Burnham Square emerged from out of the pack to draw level inside the final furlong, but the gutsy Wimbledon Hawkeye found more to score by a head following a photo finish.
Valuable Victory for Connections
Cue jubilant scenes trackside, with a Stetson-sporting Owen and Tim Gredley celebrating in unison. Wimbledon Hawkeye picked up £887,840 in prize money, with an understandably delighted Gredley highlighting the scale of the victory when stating:
“This is massive. We’re almost running for as much money as the Derby. It’s a massive incentive, it’s quite addictive, and I think, hopefully, more European horses will come to take them on.”
Back-to-Back for Dettori
Following his victory aboard the Andrew Balding-trained Bellum Justum in 2024, this marked a second Nashville Derby win in as many years for the always popular Dettori.
Having spent 20 years living next door to the Gredley family in Newmarket, Dettori expressed his delight for connections. An emotional Frankie also paid tribute to his recently departed best friend, Big Dunc, when stating:
“I lost my best friend two weeks ago in Dubai. If it wasn’t for his strength, I don’t think I would be riding here this meet. I’m doing it for him; he would want me to carry on.”
Sunday Storm for Frankie
A win in a £3.5 million event takes some topping, but Frankie gave it his best shot on the closing Sunday in Tennessee. No stranger to a multi-win blitz, the architect of the Magnificent Seven couldn’t quite match that Ascot feat. However, by the close of play on Sunday, Dettori had rattled off a quickfire 1,924/1 four-timer.
| Winner | SP | Trainer | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tickin Time Blonde | 8/1 | Victoria Oliver | $107,100 |
| Barricade | 7/1 | Joe Sharp | $119,700 |
| Banjo Chris | 14/1 | Glenn Wismer | $132,300 |
| Johnny’s Red Storm | 13/8 | George Weaver | $630,000 |
Kicking off with a win on Tickin’ Time Blonde in a maiden event, he added a pair of allowance race victories with Barricade and Banjo Chris. Riding the crest of a wave, there was no stopping Dettori in the $946,000 Juvenile Sprint. Judging the fractions to perfection aboard market leader Johnny’s Red Storm, Frankie kicked clear in the straight to score by two lengths.
Two years on from his abandoned retirement, Frankie Dettori’s US adventure continues in style. Given his phenomenal exploits on British soil, UK racing fans surely didn’t expect anything less.