Queen Camilla unveils Frankie Dettori statue at Ascot Racecourse - BBC.com

Jockey Frankie Dettori poses for a photo with a statue of himself created by Tristram Lewis after being unveiled by Queen Camilla

By Dave Gilyeat & PA Media

BBC News

Queen Camilla has unveiled a sculpture of Frankie Dettori at Ascot Racecourse to mark his farewell to Britain.

She attended a ceremony at the Berkshire track at QIPCO British Champions Day, on Saturday.

The bronze sculpture of the veteran Italian jockey came on the day he raced for the final time in the UK, riding two winners in the process.

Dettori, 52, who is moving to the US, described it as a "humbling tribute" and an "impactful artwork".

Ascot said the sculpture, located by the Grandstand Lawn, would be a permanent reminder of the jockey's "unparalleled contribution" to racing there.

Queen Camilla with Frankie Dettori as she attends the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse

Dettori said: "Ascot has been everything to me - my first Group 1 winner when I was 19 - it is where it all started and concludes with nine Gold Cups, seven King Georges, 81 winners at Royal Ascot and hopefully some victories today.

"It's wonderful to be immortalised at such a great track, and to have your own statue while you are still alive, wow."

The statue was designed by Tristram Lewis, who said it had been "a real pleasure to be able to work on this project and bring it to life."

He described the jockey as an "incredibly professional model".

Sir Francis Brooke, His Majesty's representative and chairman at Ascot, said Dettori had been a "huge part of racing at Ascot over the last 35 years".

He said the "unique sculpture" would ensure a "lasting tribute to his success is permanently in place at the racecourse".

Queen Camilla greets sculptor Tristram Lewis during a ceremony to unveil a statue of jockey Frankie Dettori

Camilla, who was wearing a brooch that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth, was assisted by members of the Greencoats, who have formed the ceremonial guard for royalty at Ascot since 1744.

Dettori first competed at Royal Ascot in 1987, before going on to ride 229 winners there overall.

In 1996, he claimed his "Magnificent Seven", riding all seven winners, at odds of 25,000-1.

He began his final day of UK racing with a victory aboard Trawlerman in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot, then winning the Champion Stakes with King of Steel on the final ride of his British career.