Globe trotting jockey Frankie Dettori has returned to scale with his head bowed after crossing the line for another second placing in the Melbourne Cup.
Dettori partnered the Lloyd and Nick Williams-owned, Joseph O’Brien-trained Master Of Reality who was beaten a head by Vow And And Declare in Tuesday’s race.
It was the third time in 17 Melbourne Cup appearances Dettori had been second across the line following Central Park in 1999 and Max Dynamite in 2015.
“I feel like crying,” Dettori said.
Things got worse for Dettori when a stewards’ protest was lodged on behalf of the connections of fourth placegetter, Il Paradisio ridden by Wayne Lordan, against Dettori resulting in Master Of Reality being relegated to fourth.
At a subsequent stewards inquiry, Dettori pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge, deemed in the low range, and suspended for nine meetings.
Dettori will begin the ban immediately and will have to delay the start of a four-week contract to ride in Japan.
DETTORI CUP RECORD:
1993 – Drum Taps 9th
1995 – Bullwinkle 10th
1997 – Arabian Story 6th
1998 – Faithful Son 7th
1999 – Central Park 2nd
2000 – Lightning Arrow 17th
2001 – Marienbard 7th
2002 – Pugin 18th
2003 – Mamool 23rd
2004 – Mamool 7th
2006 – Geordieland 18th
2010 – Holberg 6th
2012 – Cavalryman 12th
2015 – Max Dynamite 2nd
2016 – Wicklow Brave 22nd
2017 – Almandin 12th
2019 – Master Of Reality 4th (2nd across the line, relegated on protest)
