FRANKIE DETTORI is going to delay his retirement after deciding he wants one final crack at winning £2.3million in the Melbourne Cup.
The ‘race that stops a nation’ is the world’s richest handicap contest and boasts a total purse of £4.2m.
Dettori is chasing a £2.3m winner in the Melbourne Cup
This year’s renewal will take place at Flemington on Tuesday, November 7.
And Dettori will jet from California to Melbourne for a ride in the big one.
It was previously thought that Dettori’s final races would take place at the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on November 3 and 4.
But the world’s most famous jockey, 52, has officially committed to the Aussie spectacular, extending his global farewell tour.
Mind you, the 4am UK start time means fans could be in line for an early one if they want to see what could be his last ever race.
Although he is also set to ride on November 9 and 11 in the Kennedy Oaks and TAB Champions Stakes respectively.
Dettori, who last Saturday bid farewell to Royal Ascot, made his Melbourne Cup debut 30 years ago on Drum Taps and came second in 1999 and 2015.
He said: “I have achieved all there is to achieve in horse racing and have had a fantastic career, but the Melbourne Cup has always been one race that I would love to win.
“I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne to ride at the carnival for one final time and hopefully I can finish my career with a Melbourne Cup win.”
Rich Ricci owns current 8-1 favourite Vauban, who hacked up in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot.
Ryan Moore was in the saddle for that win and it looks like the Grade One-winning hurdler will have the same man on board Down Under.
Dettori rode Ricci’s Max Dynamite to second eight years ago.
Bookies William Hill make Dettori 12-1 to ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup.
Spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “You can be sure somebody will be plotting to send Dettori out on a high and we make him 12-1 to finally ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup.
“Race favourite Vauban, currently 8-1, looks like being ridden by Ryan Moore again after his Royal Ascot win, but there’s a long time until the Melbourne Cup and we expect Frankie to end up on something fancied.”
