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Dettori makes amends

Frankie Dettori said he could “chillax” after he bounced back from a “tough week” to get off the mark and win the feature Coronation Stakes on the third day of Royal Ascot with the impressive unbeaten filly Inspiral on Friday (June 17).

Trainer John Gosden said it was good for the 51-year-old Italian to have “got the monkey off his back which had been strangling him”. 

It was a stark contrast to the icy atmosphere when he returned to see Gosden on Thursday after a heavily criticised ride on Stradivarius which saw him finish a gallant third but fall short of a record-equalling fourth Ascot Gold Cup.

Inspiral also looked to be having problems in finding a clear run but once Dettori found a gap the favourite sped clear to make a top class field look very ordinary. 

“She has an engine and got me out of trouble,” he said. “It’s been a tough week and we’re on the board now. We can chillax a bit.” 

Dettori said he had been down since Thursday as he had also not pleased Gosden with his head second on Saga owned by Queen Elizabeth II in the Britannia Stakes.

“My head was thumping last night,” he said. “I thought I had a couple of chances today and not all is lost yet. 

“It’s hard to do, but you have to think out of the box, pull yourself together and concentrate.” 

Gosden – who was responsible in 2013 for resurrecting Dettori’s career after he served a doping ban – said matters had been dealt with.

“You can’t keep looking back,” he said. “You discuss it, deal with it and move on. ” - AFP

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