FRANKIE DETTORI could land a £6MILLION winner on his big first rides since filing for his ’embarrassing’ bankruptcy.
The world’s most famous jockey will be in action at the star-studded Dubai World Cup night in Meydan on Saturday, April 5 – the same day Britain comes to a standstill for the Grand National.
AFPFrankie Dettori could land one of world racing’s richest prizes in the Dubai World Cup – mere weeks after filing for bankruptcy[/caption]
On a massive day of racing across the world, Dettori will be aiming to put his name back in the news for all the right reasons.
Earlier this month, during Cheltenham Festival, Dettori, 54, announced he was filing for bankruptcy amid a long-running battle with HMRC over tax avoidance.
The shamed star, who left Britain for the US at the end of 2023, said: “For the last six-months, my advisors have been working with HMRC in an attempt to find a solution to my financial situation.
“Regretfully, I will be filing for bankruptcy.
“I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters.
“Bankruptcy is a major decision and its consequences will affect me for many years.
“I am relieved to be drawing a line on this long-term matter, which enables me to reset and focus on my international riding career.”
However, he could be in line for a whopping pay day if successful in Dubai.
Jockeys generally get around ten per cent of winnings in a race and Dettori will ride the favourite, Raging Torrent, in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.
American handler Doug O’Neill is going for back-to-back victories in the dirt contest and victory last year with Two Rivers Over landed him and connections just shy of £500,000.
Dettori, who has won that race seven times, is also booked to ride 40-1 outsider Mixto in the Group 1 feature later on the same day.
The Italian has won the World Cup a record-equalling four times, most recently with Country Grammer in 2022.
He looks to have his work cut out on O’Neill’s other runner, but, should the miracle strike then they can expect a cheque of around £5.5m – one of the biggest for any race all year.
O’Neill said: “Having Frankie in the saddle, arguably one of the best of all time, is a great asset.”
Dettori, who is estimated to have made around £20m from his legendary career in the saddle, will be desperate to put his bankruptcy woes behind him with some high-profile winners.
His financial situation became public knowledge last December when his plea for anonymity was rejected by a High Court judge.
The case was brought against dad-of-five Dettori by his former tax advisors, who he had employed to oversee his and his family’s financial affairs.
The jockey ended the relations last year and employed a different set of financial experts in an attempt to resolve the case.
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