15:11

After a masterful Epsom ride to win our second race, Frankie Dettori unexpectedly made a point of telling the world that he will not be retiring, yet. The 47-year-old has long said he would like to keep on going until he’s 50, making a midseason stoppage just now seem most improbable. But a rumour has nonetheless been doing the rounds to the effect that he was about to call time and at Epsom today that rumour reached gale force, the Italian being asked by one reporter after another whether there was any truth in it.

His answer was emphatic. “I’m not retiring!” he said on dismounting from Wilamina, before he could be asked the question again. Well, you’ll have to retire one day, someone said. “No!” insisted Dettori, smiling but seemingly determined to get the message across. “Not this weekend, anyway.”

Turning to the crowd around the winner’s enclosure, he yelled: “I AM NOT RETIRING!” And to ram the point home, he added: “Five more years!” as he climbed the podium to receive his trophy.





Probably best not to ask him again...