‘The passion is here’ - Frankie Dettori ready for Uruguay as his farewell tour continues on Tuesday

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Frankie Dettori highlighted the passion he has witnessed for racing in Uruguay as he gets set for the second leg of his farewell tour in South America on Tuesday.

The world-renowned jockey will have four rides on the 20-race card at the Maroñas racecourse in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo. While Dettori does not have a ride in the Grade 1 Gran Premio José Pedro Ramírez, his presence at the track has reportedly had an impact on the number of attendees expected, with a local racing personality describing it as "like having Messi or Ronaldo play here" .

Most notably, he will ride Brazilian runner Sparco in the Grade 3 Gran Premio Pedro Pineyrua, the first 'win-and-you're in' race of the year in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. 

Speaking at a press conference, Dettori said he admired the love for the sport in South America and referred to past stars like Invasor, the Argentine-bred horse who won the Triple Crown in Uruguay in 2005, the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2006 and the Dubai World Cup in 2007.

He said: “I spent the last two years in America. While America has the best mares, stallions, and I guess the horses are superior to the ones here, every once in a while you have a horse like Invasor. 

"The passion is here. There are beautiful racetracks here, and I can see them everywhere."

He added: “I’ve had eight days in Bolivia as a tourist, and it’s definitely a culture shock when I came back to Uruguay. I forgot what a beautiful place you have, and I’m very pleased to be here."

Dettori’s first leg kicked off at San Isidro in Buenos Aires last month on one of Argentina’s biggest racedays, the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, where he got off to a flying start  and treated the Argentinian fans to a flying dismount after winning aboard Grand Candyman.

After his time in Uruguay, the 55-year-old’s tour and riding career will come to an end in Brazil at Gavea racecourse in Rio de Janeiro next month.

The mammoth meeting, at which top international jockey Joao Moreira will also be riding, gets under way at 3pm GMT with Dettori's rides coming in the races at 3.30, 5.10, 5.35 and 6.40. The full card will also be streamed live on YouTube.

Read these next:

'It will be like having Messi or Ronaldo play here' - Uruguayan racing ready to embrace Frankie Dettori on latest leg of farewell tour 

'I can relax now!' - Frankie Dettori's South American farewell tour gets off to perfect start with first winner in Argentina 

Argentina awaits for Frankie Dettori as his South American swansong begins on the country's biggest raceday 

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