With the news of Frankie Dettori retiring after the 42nd Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar this weekend – we look at the final Frankie Dettori Breeders’ Cup rides to see if the pocket Italian can end his riding career on a high at America’s biggest meeting.
Frankie Dettori To Retire After The 2025 Breeders’ Cup
Just days before the 42nd Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, legendary jockey Frankie Dettori has announced he’ll be retiring from race riding in the US after the meeting – and plans to end his career with a few mounts in South America – stating this is “something he’s always wanted to do”.
It’s also been revealed that once he finally hangs up his riding boots – Dettori will then join up with the Amo Racing team as their global brand ambassador – which will see him hook-up with big-spending owner Kia Joorabchian.
Of course, we’ve been here before with Dettori – who famously did a retirement U-turn at the end of 2023 to ride in the US, where he’s been ever since.
But this time you feel his decision is final – so the upcoming 2025 Breeders’ Cup will be his last big meeting.
So, can he go out on a high and produce another of his famous ‘flying dismounts’ one more time?
Frankie Dettori Breeders’ Cup Rides 2025
Friday 31st October 2025
9:45pm Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint – 5f, (Turf): ASPECT ISLAND (14/1)
Heads over from the James Owen yard, who Frankie has had some success with this season in the US.
This 2 year-old colt has only been on the track five times, with his sole win coming in a Yarmouth Nursery Handicap in September.
However, he’s since run the useful Beckford’s Folly to 3/4 of a length in the Group Three Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket (watch below) – which was also his first try over the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint five furlong trip.
Draw 4 looks ideal too but he’ll be taking on three big Aidan O’Brien Breeders’ Cup runners in True Love, Brussels and Mission Central.
What a thrilling finish 🤯
Beckford's Folly wins the Newmarket Academy @Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes 👏 pic.twitter.com/Km4tZiCRJz
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) October 10, 2025
11:05pm Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – 1m, (Turf): IMAGINATIONTHELADY (14/1)
Trained in the US by Brendan Walsh, this 2 year-old filly is yet to taste defeat and will head to Del Mar as a Frankie Dettori Breeders’ Cup ride that is 2-from-2.
She was last seen winning over 1m 1/2f at Keeneland at the start of October – beating Infinite Sky by a length with Dettori also doing the steering that day.
The Not This Time filly has been handed gate 3, which is a further plus – but will also be taking on the Aidan O’Brien hot-pot Precise.
Frankie Dettori is yet to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Saturday 1st November 2025
7:41pm Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint – 5f, (Turf) – KHAADEM (12/)
Frankie Dettori will team up with UK trainer Charles Hills next on the 9 year-old former Royal Ascot winner Khaadem.
Despite his age, this Dark Angel sprinter is still loving life – heading here having won the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland at the start of October (watch below).
Dettori rode him that day too and having over just over £2m in total prize money this veteran sprinter will be hoping for another big payday on what will be his 43rd career outing.
He’ll be taking on last year’s second Motorious and two leading Amo Racing runners in Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Forte.
This is also another race Dettori is yet to win at the Breeders’ Cup.
9:41pm Breeders’ Cup Turf – 1m4f, (Turf) – WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (16/1)
The next Frankie Dettori Breeders’ Cup ride will be on a familiar name and another for Newmarket trainer James Owen.
This 3 year-old had been running well in many Group races in the UK this season, without getting his head in front.
However, this changed last time when a power-packed Dettori ride got him home by a head in the Nashville Derby at the end of August.
Wimbledon Hawkeye will be taking on the two-time winner of this race Rebel’s Romance and also this year’s Epsom Oaks winner Minnie Hauk.
But this is a race Frankie loves to win – the pocket Italian has landed the Breeders’ Cup Turf five times and is the equal winning-most rider with Ryan Moore.
His first came in 1999 on Daylami and his most recent in 2018 on the wonder mare Enable.
The Breeders’ Cup Turf will also be one of three races being shown LIVE on the ITV racing schedule on Saturday.
11:05pm Breeders’ Cup Mile – 1m, (Turf) – ARGINE (20/1)
The final Dettori 2025 Breeders’ Cup ride will come in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on a Japanese raider.
This runner from the Far East is trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida and will head here having won two of her last five outings.
The last of these wins came in a Grade 3 at Sapporo – and the last time she delved into Grade 1 company saw her finish 4th in the Victoria Mile in Tokyo back in May.
Argine will take on Notable Speech, who runs for Dettori’s old employers Godolphin, who was also third in the race last season.
Another big name in the Breeders’ Cup Mile will be The Lion In Winter, plus this season’s shock Sussex Stakes winner Qirat.
Frankie Dettori has won this race twice in the past – with his first back in 1994 with Barathea (his first ever Breeders’ Cup winner) and his most recent Expert Eye in 2018 for trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
Note: All Breeders’ Cup times shown are UK (GMT) times and odds are subject to change.
When Is The 2025 Breeders’ Cup?
📅Date: Fri 31st Oct-Sat 1st Nov 2025
🏇Racecourse: Del Mar
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV / Sky Sports Racing
How Many Breeders’ Cup Winners Has Frankie Dettori Ridden?
Over the years Frankie Dettori has ridden 15 Breeders’ Cup winners.
His first came in 1994 with Barathea in the Breeders’ Cup Mile for trainer Luca Cumani (watch below).
While his most recent was Inspiral for another stable that has been a big supporter of Dettori over the years – John Gosden.
Frankie Dettori Breeders’ Cup Winners
- Breeders’ Cup Classic – (1) – Raven’s Pass (2008)
- Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – (3) – Ouija Board (2006), Queen’s Trust (2016), Inspiral (2023)
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – (1) – Wilko (2004)
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – (3) – Donativum (2008), Pounced (2009), Hootenanny (2014)
- Breeders’ Cup Mile – (2) – Barathea (1994), Expert Eye (2018)
- Breeders’ Cup Turf – (5) – Daylami (1999), Fantastic Light (2001), Red Rocks (2006), Dangerous Midge (2010), Enable (2018)
Dettori is still someway off the Breeders’ Cup record haul of winners from a jockey – with Mike Smith firing in 27.
But Frankie currently sits joint fifth in the jockeys winning list – with Jerry Bailey and Joel Rosario also on 15 winners heading into 2025.
Jockey Breeders’ Cup Wins
- Mike Smith – 27
- John R. Velazquez – 20
- Irad Ortiz Jr. – 18
- Ryan Moore – 16
- Jerry Bailey & Joel Rosario Each – 15
- Frankie Dettori – 15
