Frankie Dettori just an ‘anonymous man with a funny accent’ in America
FRANKIE DETTORI is loving being just a ‘normal man with a funny accent’ out in America.
The world’s most famous jockey, 52, left Britain behind earlier this month for the riches on offer in the States.
Dettori is the most famous jockey in the world – but he’s finding life quieter than usual out in the StatesGetty
He will kick-start the latest stage of his globe-trotting career in this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup.
But while he is an A-lister on the racetrack, turns out hardly anyone across the pond knows who he is off it.
Dettori, who bowed out of British racing with a miraculous Champion Stakes win on King Of Steel and will ride him again in the Turf on Saturday evening, recounted one recent funny exchange in a restaurant.
He was out for lunch in Pasadena when he got chatting to a local.
Dettori told drf.com: “I was there at the bar and I found myself looking around to see if anyone saw me. It’s kind of a habit.
“I was talking to this chap next to me. He said, ‘you’ve got a funny accent. Where are you from?’
“I said I’m Italian and English.”
Turns out the bloke had no idea who Dettori was.
The jockey continued: “At home, they’re all very nice, but you always feel somebody is watching you.
“Here when I step out of the track, I’m a normal person.”
Dettori also has a big Filly & Mare Turf ride on Inspiral, a Classic mount on Zandon and will ride Unquestionable in the Juvenile Turf.
He goes into racing’s world championships in red-hot form.
Although it hasn’t all been plain sailing.
Dettori picked up another ban and his winning horse was disqualified and placed last after he was found guilty of careless riding.
That three-day ban came after he picked up a 16-day ban for breaking whip rules at Ascot.
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