Horse Racing: Still Flying - Dettori Completes Derby Double

Bookmakers were yesterday counting the cost of a Classic double by Frankie Dettori, who followed up his Epsom Derby victory on Authorized with an all-the-way success aboard Lawman in the French equivalent at Chantilly.

Whereas Authorized gave the Italian his first Epsom win at the 15th attempt, Lawman was Dettori's third French Derby triumph since 1992. He only came in for the ride after Lawman's regular jockey, Olivier Peslier, was claimed for No Dream, who finished unplaced.

The five-lengths victory of the hot favorite Authorized cost the bookmaking industry at least £20m, and Dettori's fans were out in force again yesterday. "Plenty of customers picked up their Authorized winnings on Sunday morning and many kept the faith in Frankie doing the Derby double, making this a weekend to forget for us," said David Stevens, spokesman for the bookmakers Coral.

In contrast to the patient tactics he adopted on Authorized, Dettori went straight to the front on Lawman. "It was very hard for me to judge as I didn't really know the horse, but Olivier [Peslier] and the trainer gave me great confidence," he said.

Dettori judged things perfectly. Winding up the pace with four furlongs to run, he made a race-winning kick in the final quarter-mile and Lawman had enough in reserve to hold on from several fast-finishers.

The race was delayed after a false start, and there was drama in the parade ring when Lawman unshipped Dettori, who had an injury scare with a damaged knee in the week before the Epsom Derby. But the Italian was still able to treat the Chantilly crowd to his trademark flying dismount.

"I don't even know what is going on," said Dettori. "This is just so surreal and crazy. People wait all their lives to win a Derby and I win two in 24 hours."