Frankie Dettori says he would “love nothing better” than to ride a winner for The King

Frankie Dettori has said he would “love nothing better” than to ride a winner for The King and Queen at Royal Ascot next week.

52-year-old Dettori, who is retiring this year after a career spanning for over three decades, is hoping to mark his final Royal Ascot with a winner in the famous scarlet and purple silks.

Speaking to Racing TV, Dettori said : “It was an honour to ride for the (late) Queen.

“I always wore those silks with pride and nothing has changed.”

He continued: “I am excited to ride for King Charles and Queen Camilla.

“I would love nothing better than to ride a winner for them next week. A royal winner would raise the roof.

“It would be fantastic and I’m obviously really looking forward to the meeting.”

Dettori will be partnered with two of The King & Queen’s horses next week – Saga and Reach For the Moon.

Both horses are trained by John & Thady Gosden, with Saga running in the Wolferton Stakes on Tuesday, and Reach For The Moon taking his chance in the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday.

The jockey rode both of these horses last year – Queen Elizabeth II’s final Royal Ascot – both of which finished 2nd.

Frankie Dettori first rode at Royal Ascot in 1989, and has been the meeting’s top jockey on seven occasions, and has won the meeting’s flagship race – the Gold Cup – on eight occasions.

He has ridden 77 winners at the Royal Meeting in his time, a feat only bettered by Lester Piggott.