Frankie Dettori completed a remarkable six-timer in the USA – one short of his famous Magnificent Seven at Ascot.
The Italian won every race at Ascot back in September 1996, which cost bookies around £40million. He fell one short of an American version when he steered six horses to victory on the Santa Anita Derby card.
Based in the US after scrapping plans to retire last year, Dettori looked set to rewrite the record books when rattling off six consecutive victories on Saturday night, including winning the Santa Anita Oaks. And although he failed to add to his tally from four more rides it was still a special night for the 53-year-old.
He said: “I adore this place and to be able to say that I won six races on Derby day is beyond my wildest dreams. I don't know how to put it into words. Is it real? Am I dreaming? Is this really happening? It's incredible. I just don't know what to say."
Dettori kicked off with maiden winner Ball Don't Lie and then won on Recinto Rompere in a claiming race before landing the Evening Jewel Stakes with Roberta's Love at big odds.
After that success, Dettori said: "I was surprised, she jumped like a rocket and within 50 yards we were clear of the field and at the rail. I thought if nobody hassled with me, I'd be very hard to catch and that was the case. We went right up to the line.”
Next up came another maiden winner in Kathynmarissa and Dettori then partnered Nothing Like You to victory in the Grade Two Santa Anita Oaks.
She was regarded as trainer Bob Baffert's second string behind odds-on favourite Kinza but swept past her stablemate entering the home straight and ultimately romped home by seven and a half lengths.
"The filly didn't like the kick-back too much last time but I was lucky to get a decent break and could take up a decent position where I wasn't getting any kick-back," said Dettori. "I was fully loaded at the quarter pole, I just needed a bit of room and she took off."
Dettori's sixth straight success soon followed when Royal Charter, a former William Haggas inmate now trained by Leonard Powell, swept to victory on her American debut.
A close second on the Baffert-trained favourite Imagination in the 750,000 Grade One Santa Anita Derby was the closest Dettori came to reaching seventh heaven again.