Top jockey Frankie Dettori in plea over running of the four Classics

The British Horseracing Authority, and other industry leaders, are preparing for the sport’s resumption by drawing up a revised fixture list.

There’s likely to be a clearer indication on the resumption of the sport next week when the Government publishes its economic response to Covid-19 before deciding on Thursday whether to keep the lockdeown in place or not.

And Dettori’s remarks are even more prescient because this weekend would – in normal times – have seen the staging of the Guineas meeting at Newmarket and first two Classics of 2020.

Yet the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, together with next month’s Oaks and Derby at Epsom, remain on hold.

Even if racing resumes this month, and that is being optimistic, it will be behind closed doors at a handful of select tracks with races reduced 12 to runners and restricted to experienced jockeys.

Dettori, the elder statesman of the weighing room, is appreciative of racing’s history – and the importance of the Classics to the breeding of the next generation of equine superstars.

He won the 2007 Derby on Authorized before landing Flat racing’s most celebrated contest for a second time on Golden Horn in 2015.

He also partnered Logician to victory in last year’s St Leger at Doncaster, the world’s oldest Classic, and which dates back to 1776.

Dettori feels it is crucial to the breed to ensure those key races are contested and while he would prefer the Derby to remain at Epsom, he is open to the idea of an alternate venue if circumstances dictate.

He said: “They had the Derby at Newmarket during the Second World War and I think the Epsom Downs are public grounds, so it might be hard to keep people away. I think that was the worry.

“Personally, I would prefer the Derby to be at Epsom. The most important thing though is to have the Classics – it doesn’t matter if they’re a month or six weeks later. We have to protect this three-year-old generation as we are the custodians of the thoroughbred breed.

“It will be odd to have Royal Ascot behind closed doors, though.”

Despite there being no on-course action, life continues as near to normal as possible in racing stables and Dettori, 49, has been regularly riding out for John Gosden.

Dettori has dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Enable and top stayer Stradivarius to look forward to when the season eventually gets under way.

Dettori reports his star mounts to be in fine heart and believes the delayed start to the season will not trouble either runner unduly.

“It’s more of an issue for the three-year-olds, with the Guineas and the Derby so important. Fingers crossed, we will know more after May 7, but it is a testing time,” he said.

The three-times champion jockey was speaking after delivering the first consignment of 1,000 bottles of wellness hydration drink iPRO to Newmarket Hospital near where he lives.

Dettori, who is a shareholder in iPRO, is planning further donations over the coming weeks.

The Italian admits it has been a trying few weeks, with his mother and sister both living in or around Milan, which is the capital of the heavily hit Lombardy region in Italy.

He said: “We are going to deliver 100,000 bottles in total, although obviously not all at once.

“We have started with Newmarket Hospital, they are doing coronavirus testing at the moment, but we will also be sending much needed drinks to multiple NHS hospital sites across the UK.

“It’s been a tough time for everyone. My mum lives half an hour from Milan and my sister lives in Milan, with northern Italy having been the epicentre and having the highest death toll in Europe.

“My mum had pneumonia 10 years ago, so if she got this virus, there’s a good chance she might not make it. It’s been a scary time and all I can do is hope and pray.”

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