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“Life tames Lions,” says Frankie

Published by charl on December 2, 2009

DURING the recent visit by the International Jockeys to South Africa, Charl Pretorius spent an hour at the Lost City listening to the legendary Frankie Dettori and gained insight into the world of racing’s superstar. This article was published last week in The Citizen’s Racing Express.

LITERALLY thousands of interviews have been conducted with jockey Frankie Dettori, the flamboyant international superstar. He is “the face of modern horseracing’’ and he knows it. There is really nothing new you can ask Frankie. He has answered all of racing’s questions at some point in his career, even some tricky personal ones. He handles glaring and undivided attention as naturally as one would handle a stroll in a park and assumes control of every conversation he happens upon.

Frankie is loud, engaging, humorous and highly entertaining. His unique Euro-Italian accent rings crisp, clear and instantly recognizable, pitched at the right tones. His use of English is exceptional. He makes even swearwords sound measured and stylish, thrown in at the right places to compliment some of his extraordinary tales.

Frankie makes women weak. The ultimate charmer, he pays special attention to those females who enter his circle. He speaks to them fondly, often hugging women unknown to him just because they are good looking. Ordinary Joe would never get away with it!

On a visit last week to The Palace at Lost City along with the other international and South African jockeys, I decide not to interview Frankie, but instead simply to listen to him talk.

* * *

A few of us are on the deck outside the Tusk Bar at The Palace, around 4pm. We’re having early cocktails on a Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of the evening’s entertainment and a Golf Tournament on Wednesday.

Andrew Bon is there with his wife Sarah, also Andrew Fortune, John Finlayson and I. Dave Mollett is around here somewhere, I saw him and his lovely companion at the bar. Paul Lafferty and James Goodman were delayed but are on their way.

Most of the jockeys have left on a game drive in the Pilanesberg with the tour organisers, Neil and Nadia Smith. It is on the chilly side. We’re at the right place at the right time, relaxing in a spot of afternoon sunlight.

Frankie appears on the deck, as if from nowhere. He is immaculately dressed as usual, in all black with a designer shirt and fashion waistcoat. His shoes are buffed, shiny. He looks tired, but puts his hand on Bon’s shoulder and bellows, ‘Hey Andy, where’s the champagne?’

Frankie’s entrance is unexpected, but welcome. One of the reasons we are all here is to rub shoulders with world-famous Italian. The energy he brings to the small party of people is instant and his presence is tangible. For a few moments, all we can mumble are a few words in agreement with Frankie’s suggestion. Bring on the champers!

Frankie’s eyes scan briefly over his company, summing up the individuals at the table. He calls the waitress, places an order for Moët & Chandon and tells her to hurry up. French champagne is his favourite drink.

Andrew fires off a question of sorts, but Frankie thinks it’s too long-winded. “Come on Andrew, how long have we known each other, don’t talk to me like a journalist!’’ he barks. There’s a lesson in there, maybe? While he enjoys the attention, the adulation and the clicking of cameras, Frankie likes straight talk.

Then, he takes off on a verbal journey.

“I’ve had a busy time, you know. I had to cart the kids to school yesterday and then I got on a train to Heathrow for an 11-hour flight. I’ve been travelling a lot the last few weeks!’’

Andrew Fortune asks: “Frankie, tell me your secret to life and your secret to riding?’’

He ponders just a while and replies, “The secret to life is to surround yourself with positive people. I won’t tell you about my problems and I don’t want to hear yours! I don’t like negativity. The secret to riding… well there is no secret really. You are good or you’re not. Try hard. But don’t try too hard. A few years ago I was stuck on 96 winners for weeks and I wanted to get to 100 winners. I tried my level best, every day, but the winners wouldn’t come.

“With a week to go I came home one night and my wife said, ‘Frankie, come and relax, you’re trying way too hard. Take your mind off things.’ She fetched a bottle of champagne and we went up to the room and drank the whole bottle and relaxed. I rode eight winners over the next two meetings.’’

He elaborates on his fame and fortune.

“Perhaps sometimes I take all of this for granted, everything I have. I’ll go to Dubai for a few months and ride over there in the Dubai Carnival and enjoy a bit of a holiday in the sun and forget how privileged I am.

“When I’m back from Dubai and riding at my first meeting in England, people shout, “Frankie! Frankie!’’ There I would be on the track, in the company of legends like Johnny Murtagh and Mick Kinane and 10 000 people are chanting “Frankie’’ from the grandstand.

“At moments like that I come back to reality and I remember how privileged I am. I am grateful for being famous, but I am also very used to it now. I live my life, I take what comes to me. I try to enjoy every day. Life has offered me abundance and I know I am a fortunate person!’’

Then he tells a story not many have heard.

“Some time ago I was bugged every week by an Italian person who said he worked for one of the important people in Italy, let’s call him the Big Don! He reminded me that I was a son of Italy and said I was required to come to his city for the opening of a new racetrack which had been built by The Don.

“I said, ‘No, I do not know you. I have no business with you. I have a busy schedule.’ But he kept phoning for weeks and eventually he said, ‘Mr Dettori, you will be here on Friday. Make sure you are here. Thank you.’

He chuckles: “There was something in his voice that got me to the plane without further hesitation. My reception was big and animated, like something from a movie. There were motorbikes with cops and cars with sirens all over. I was escorted into the middle of this little town, straight into an area where normally only pedestrians are allowed go! Everywhere people scattered to make way.

“I met The Don. He was the real thing, believe you me. We went to a private party with lots of booze flowing. There was about 400 people there, it felt like they all knew me and I had to make a speech. They loved it! The next day I was escorted to the new track. I rode four easy winners and two seconds. I was on the right horses for sure!’’

Frankie was well secured, but his many Italian fans wouldn’t leave him alone.

“They got into the jockey room and stripped me of my boots, my vest, everything. I was down to my underpants! So The Don came along and gave me a lift back to my hotel in his personal vehicle. They put a big jacket around me and there I went.

“As he saw me off, The Don pulled me towards him and said, “Frankie, you have la liberta della cita!’ That means Freedom of the City. And then, just like in the movies, he whispered, ‘if there is anything, anything you need, you just phone me, ok!?’’

* * *

‘Goofman’ and ‘Mr Paul’ have arrived, so too Ian Botham, the famous cricketer. Frankie jumps up and hugs Botham. They exchange pleasantries at the bar and photos are taken.

Much later he comes around again, this time speaking just to Andrew Bon, John and I. It is almost as if he forgot to say something earlier.

“You know, I survived a plane crash. I cheated death. I saw the earth approaching very fast from a nose-diving plane, a strange sensation knowing you are going to die. I had another chance to fulfill my dreams and I have done it. I am not the goal-chaser I was 15 years ago. I have a wife and kids, I am settled now. My biography is being updated, so many things have happened to me the last few years.

“I am 38, perhaps I am not as good as I used to be in my younger years. I ride many winners automatically, I do the right things and they win. But every season, I promise you, there are one or two wins I cannot explain. I watch the replays over and over and I say to myself, ‘How did you win that race? It was impossible!’ Yet they happened. I won. I need to figure them out, those inexplicable few wins every year.’’

Is Frankie becoming philosophical as he approaches 40? Maybe.

He ponders: “Years ago I had no fear, nothing. I was untouchable. I would race through red traffic lights. Today I slow down before the light goes amber. In a race, if there’s a small, dangerous gap on the inside, I’d rather go to the outside!’’

Frankie leaves us with a quote that hits home: “Life tames lions, my friends. Life tames lions!’’