Superstar European rider Frankie Dettori has announced that he will ride at the Santa Anita meet, starting with opening day, Dec. 26. Dettori made the announcement on the Nick Luck Daily podcast.
“I think I will possibly spend the winter in California at Santa Anita where I started many years ago as a young boy,” Dettori said. “I did four lovely winters there in the late eighties. I've been doing my winters in Dubai the last few years, but I'm getting a lot of requests from trainers to come over. So I thought `why not?' I want to give it a go. It's a place that I am a big fan of and am very fond of Santa Anita. I am looking forward to the challenge. This is the plan for the winter.”
Dettori had ridden frequently in the U.S., but usually comes in just for major races. He said he has no such plans for Santa Anita and said that he is committed to riding there regularly.
“If you're going to do it, you have to do it properly,” he said. “That's why I am starting on opening day.”
Dettori said he was planning to return to Europe when the flat season gets underway, but said he could extend his stay in the U.S. if he picks up a contender for the GI Kentucky Derby.
“Who knows, I might find a nice 3-year-old that heads to Churchill Downs for the first Saturday in May,” he told Luck. “I am keeping all my options open. I am going there with a clean slate and am looking forward to the challenge. I don't want to look too far ahead. My main concern is to get there for Boxing Day and start from there. You never know what will happen. I might land on a nice 3-year-old and things can take a different path. At the moment, my focus is to do well and take it from there.”
Dettori has had one Derby mount, finishing sixth aboard China Visit (Red Ransom) in 2000.
Dettori has hired veteran agent Ron Anderson, who also books mounts for Joel Rosario and John Velazquez.
“Ron Anderson is a top class agent and also a good friend for so many years,” Dettori said. “I had a chat with him and he will take me under his umbrella of jockeys and help me out. He's a good person to have on your side.”
Dettori had been riding in Dubai during the winters. He told Luck that riding at Santa Anita will be a new challenge for him, something he relishes at this stage in his career.
“Dubai been easy for us,” he said. “It's only down the road. But at this stage at in my career, I've done a lot in Dubai. I need a fresh challenge and this opportunity came up. With people telling me they want me over there, why not? Better late than never. Let's give it a go.”
Dettori has had 70 mounts over his career at Santa Anita with four winners.
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