FRANKIE DETTORI is buzzing to be back in the Godolphin blue on Dubai World Cup night.
The 50-year-old will don the famous silks on the huge £19 million card for the first time since 2012.
He’ll team up with old pal and trainer Saeed bin Suroor twice during a stellar book of eight rides.
He said: “It feels a little bit like a trip down memory lane!
“I’m 50 now and I’m trying to enjoy every moment a bit more.
“Dubai World Cup night has been a very special and successful meeting for me in the past and I’d love to get another big win on the board at Meydan on Saturday.”
He partners Global Heat and Dubai Future for Suroor, but it’s John Gosden’s Lord North that could star in the Group 1 Dubai Turf.
Dettori told Sporting Index: “The concern is that he’s had almost five months off, but when I rode him on Thursday he felt good.
“John is the best and he showed with Mishriff in The Saudi Cup he can get one ready for a big race like this.
“He’s the highest rated in the race so obviously goes there with a big chance.”
Dettori will ride Great Scot in the Dubai World Cup – worth over £5 million to the winner.
He added: “I was asked to ride Great Scot a while back and I took it with both hands.
“He’s been running very well all winter in Saudi, including finishing third in The Saudi Cup last time out, and I’m very pleased to have a good ride in the race.
“Some of the big guns haven’t turned up, we’ve got a nice draw, he’s been in good form and it’s just a question of whether he handles the surface now.”
The Italian’s winter travels may mean he misses the first few key dates back home as the turf season gets underway.
Dettori aims to be back for the Craven meeting, but quarantine rules could make things tricky.
He said: “Quarantine is a bit of a nightmare and I’ve still got to work how to get back.
“Staying in a hotel for 10 days requires plenty of patience and I’m not quite sure I’ve got that!
“We’ll see how the next week or so plays out and then hopefully get back for the Craven meeting.
“The way things stand at the moment, I could miss the start of the Craven, but it changes day-by-day so we’ll just have to see.”
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