How many times has Frankie Dettori won the Derby?

The short answer is that Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori has won the Derby twice, on Authorized in 2007 and Golden Horn in 2015. However, those facts alone do not tell the full story. The likeable Italian first rode in the Derby in 1992, finishing a remote sixteenth on Pollen Count, owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained by John Gosden. Thereafter, though, he developed a Derby ‘hoodoo’, which he would not end until 15 years later. Indeed, Dettori had won all the other English Classic races at least twice apiece before winning the Derby for the first time in 2007.

When he did so, Dettori did so in style, storming clear in the closing stages to win, impressively, by 5 lengths. Backed as if defeat was out of the question, Authorized was sent off at odds of 5/4, thereby becoming the shortest-priced winner since Shergar in 1981. However, the race was not without anxiety for favourite backers, as Dettori sat well off the pace in the early stages. Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam said afterwards, ‘Frankie was probably a bit further back than I wanted him to be, but Authorized has got so much class.’

Dettori would not win the Derby again until 2015, by which time he had lost his retainer with Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation and been banned for six months after testing positive for cocaine while riding in France. Nevertheless, he oozed confidence on 13/8 favourite Golden Horn, trained by John Gosden, sweeping past stable companion Jack Hobbs with a furlong to run to win, comfortably, by 3½ lengths.