Frankie Dettori on ‘starvation’ rations in bid to make extreme weight after being overlooked for rides worth £3.2million
FRANKIE DETTORI is on a ‘starvation’ diet in a bid to make an extreme weight below what he previously called his ‘bare minimum’.
The world’s most famous jockey has been overlooked for two huge rides worth a combined £3.2million in Dubai on Saturday.
But he will aim to kick off his World Cup card with victory on Charlie Appleby’s Star Of Mystery in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.
The three-year-old filly is 3-1 favourite to land the £685,000 prize but Dettori will have to make the miniscule 8st 5lb weight.
This is the total weight the horse will carry including jockey and all equipment.
His former British rivals Jim Crowley and Richard Kingscote have far easier jobs making the 9st 4lb their respective mounts, Danyah and Diligent Harry, must carry.
Dettori, 53, now based in the US after his retirement U-turn at the end of last year, said in 2017 that the 8st 7lb he rode Enable at was his ‘bare minimum’.
The jockey, who loves his food and red wine, labelled his diet of fish, vegetables and water ‘grim’.
But it paid off as the wondermare won the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The Daily Mail reported Dettori is ‘likely to be on starvation rations’ in order to make the basement weight.
And the Italian will be hoping it is all worth it after losing rides on the John and Thady Gosden-trained dup Emily Upjohn and Trawlerman.
Dettori rode both to victory in Britain but the Gosdens have overlooked him in favour of Kieran Shoemark.
Emily Upjohn will take on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Spirit Dancer along with Derby hero Auguste Rodin in the £2.7m Dubai Sheema Classic.
While former Ebor winner Trawlerman will look to scoop the near-£500,000 on offer for winning the 2m Dubai Gold Cup.
Dettori will link up with his former boss to ride Lord North in the Dubai Turf.
While a leg up on Bob Baffert’s Newgate will complete his four rides on the money-spinning card.
Explaining the decision to go for Shoemark over Dettori in the big race, Gosden Snr said: “Frankie is now based in the US so it makes sense for Kieran Shoemark to take the ride on Emily Upjohn in Dubai.
“He will be riding her for the rest of the season.”
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