French and Epsom Derby report:Frankie Dettori's late night celebrations after Authorized's Epsom Derby success on Saturday proved no barrier to the Italian winning a second Derby in 24 hours as he claimed a spectacular all-the-way victory on Lawman in yesterday's Prix du Jockey Club.
Typically for a Dettori dominated occasion, there was no shortage of drama at Chantilly when the jockey was unshipped by Lawman in the parade ring and then a false start was called after two of the starting stalls for the 20-runner field appeared not to open.
One of the affected runners appeared to be Chinese Whisper, one of two Aidan O'Brien-trained runners along with Alexander Of Hales, who both finished out of the money.
Despite having to be called back after running a couple of furlongs, the incident proved to be no problem to the Jean-Marie Beguigne-trained Lawman who settled perfectly in front and always dominated France's premier classic.
Dettori, twice a French Derby winner in the past with Polytain (1992) and Shamardal (2005), took enough out of the field half way up the straight to comfortably hold Literato and Visionario.
Afterwards, Dettori, who had arrived at Chantilly eating an ice-cream, performed his traditional flying dismount and admitted to a late night before going to France.
"I went to the pub and had a few drinks with Peter (Chapple-Hyam) and the lads," he grinned. "My wife put me in a taxi at 1.30 and this morning my step-mother gave me a telling off for coming home late!"
Dettori was a late booking for Lawman after the colt's regular rider Olivier Peslier was claimed to ride No Dream who finished unplaced.
Dettori said: "It was very hard for me to judge as I didn't really know the horse, but Olivier and the trainer gave me great confidence. I thought if I can get a breather in round the turn and then drop the hammer down the straight, I will be very hard to catch.
"I don't feel a thing any more, and I don't know what to think - I don't even know what is going on! This is just so surreal and crazy. People wait all their lives to win a Derby and I win two in 24 hours."
Dettori who went through the card at Ascot in 1996 added: "The Magnificent Seven was unique, but these are major races and I am sure I will have a headache at Windsor tomorrow night!"
Dettori captured the Epsom Derby at the 15th attempt when red-hot favourite Authorized romped to success on Saturday. The 228th running of the world's premier Classic took place in searing heat, but Dettori hardly dropped a bead of sweat as his mount quickened right away in the final furlong for a stunning five-length victory.
Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt had long headed the ante-post betting for the race and although slightly uneasy in the pre-race market, he was still returned the 5 to 4 favourite in a result which cost the betting industry between £20 million and £50 million.
The son of Montjeu gave Dettori an armchair ride all the way and charged down the outside of the field to fly past the front-running Kid Mambo and plunder the £1.25 million prize pot in splendid isolation.
Eagle Mountain fared best of Aidan O'Brien's eight runners, finishing fast and late to take second, with Aqaleem, representing last year's winning trainer Marcus Tregoning, a further two and a half lengths down in third.
Dettori was flying high afterwards and said: "This is a dream come true. There has been tremendous pressure all round and when I hit the front my heart stopped - I could not believe what was about to happen.
"It is one of the proudest moments of my life - I haven't slept for two weeks! Peter kept telling me to be confident, but this was the first day I felt right as I was here fit and well. The race was the longest two and a half minutes of my life.
"They went a serious gallop and I counted the horses in front of me, which was about 10. I thought if they kept that pace up I would be okay.
"I had a peep under my arm and could only see daylight so I knew there was no one stalking me and I only had to worry about the horses in front of me.
"I kept him balanced and asked him for an effort two furlongs out and when I got to the furlong marker my whole world stopped. I just couldn't believe I was about to win the Derby and that this was my moment. Everything went so smooth. I was expecting a dog-fight battle but it was like an oil painting."
His Derby win completes a lifetime ambition, but he has no plans to hang up his riding boots just yet.
He continued: "It was my childhood dream to win the big three - the Arc, the King George and the Derby and I have done it. I have been champion jockey and won all the Classics.
"My love for the sport keeps me going and I also have five children to feed, so I need to keep riding!
EpsomDerbyResult
GOING: GOOD TO SOFT
4.20 - (1m 4f 10yds £709,750)
AUTHORIZED (b c Montjeu (Ire) - Funsie (Fr)) L Dettori 5/4 fav 1
Eagle Mountain J Murtagh 6/1 2
Aqaleem R Hills 9/1 3
17 ran. 5l, 2½l. (P W C-Hyam). Tote: £2.30; £1.10, £2.70, £2.60. Exacta: £13.60. CSF: £8.08. Tricast: £56.92. Non-runners: Arabian Gulf, Eastern Anthem. Tote Trifecta: £120.00
