Dettori looking to end on a high with Argine

Frankie Dettori will have one final chance to add to his impeccable CV in America when he partners Japanese hope Argine in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Italian will say goodbye to his fans Stateside at Del Mar on Saturday, with the finale coming in a race he has previously won aboard Luca Cumani’s Barathea in 1994 and then Sir Michael Stoute’s Expert Eye at Churchill Downs in 2018.

A third victory aboard the Far East raider would give Dettori not only a fitting finish to his career but also make him the joint-most successful rider in this particular Grade One event and he has been impressed with his mount in the build-up to Saturday’s contest.

“She’s very light on her feet and that’s what you need for this kind of tight track like Del Mar. Not too big, she is perfect,” said Dettori after partnering the five-year-old in trackwork.

“She is very happy and in good shape. It was just light work and for me to get a feeling of her. All the signs I got were good.”

Regarding his decision to leave America the Italian told Sky Sports Racing: “I’ve had a great time in America the last two years, I’ve seen most of the country and had great support from everyone.

“The last thing was to think where should I call it a day and there is no better place than Saturday and the Breeders’ Cup.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. There’s been some ups and downs and injuries and highs and lows, but nobody has a perfect life.

“It’s been very colourful, but overall I’ve done something which I loved and I’m lucky enough that even if I’m not riding anymore I’m still going to be a part of it.”

Dettori may be looking to equal William Buick on three victories in the race, but the Godolphin number one can become the outright leading rider if going two better than 12 months ago aboard the high-class Notable Speech in a race Charlie Appleby has farmed in three of the last four years.

Buick said: “Notable Speech was good when he won the Woodbine Mile (last time) and ran well when third here last year.

“The two turns was a new thing for him but now he’s got the experience under his belt while he has a good draw in two.”

Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter is getting closer to fulfilling the promise he showed as a juvenile and will bid to better his placed efforts in the Prix du Moulin and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes the last twice.

O’Brien said: “The Lion In Winter is progressing really good. We went to the Dante and it was clear that day he was a miler.

“We then made a quick decision to run him over seven furlongs at Deauville and he wasn’t beaten far. He was just beaten at Longchamp and then again at Ascot making it two big runs.

“He’s definitely upgrading, he came out of his last run very well and the draw (four) is fine.”

It was Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sahlan who was ahead of The Lion In Winter when springing a shock in the Moulin, but he heads to California with much more respect attached to his name and high hopes of another big performance.

“Sahlan looks fantastic and is training really well,” said Graffard.

“He’s closely matched with The Lion In Winter from a blanket finish at Longchamp but since the Moulin I couldn’t have been more pleased with him.”

Graffard also has leading claims in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with French Oaks heroine Gezora.

“The Breeders’ Cup is a meeting I love and it would be fantastic to win a race here,” said Graffard.

“Gezora got a little bit far back in the Arc. Mr (Peter) Brant (owner) wanted her to remain in America in the future.”

This is another race where Buick and Appleby had to suffer a near miss in 2024 but Cinderella’s Dream is back for more.

Also in the mix is Andrew Balding’s See The Fire who is seeking compensation for an agonising defeat in the Prix de l’Opera in her first major overseas adventure.

“It was the first time she had been in an aeroplane but she was very good on the journey and there’s a good chance she will stay a mile and a half,” said the Kingsclere handler.