Italian maestro joins an exclusive list of jockeys in Britain

How many of them have provoked flying dismounts? As Frankie Dettori passes the milestone of 3,000 Flat winners in Britain, a rare event experienced by just five other riders before him, his feat goes only some of the way towards illustrating his impact on the sport.

Dettori, of all people, rises above the confines of statistics, cannot be defined by the lavish nature of his achievements. Even counting his many successes in Ireland and further afield, other jockeys have ridden more winners than he is ever likely to, ridden more Classic winners. In this sphere, his impact is profound but not overwhelming. One of the greats, not the greatest.

Yet to the public, it’s Dettori first and the rest nowhere, far eclipsing his peers. For those whose contact with the sport extends only to the Grand National and the Derby and a little bit of Royal Ascot, there is only one name they know. Heyyyyy, Frankie. To very many people Frankie Dettori IS racing, the cheerful face of a confusing sport, a man whose unabashed excitement at his achievements is infectious, spreading the racing bug in a way that Ryan Moore’s deadpan, or the calm acceptances of the top trainers, do not.