Frankie Dettori's return to riding action may have been a bit of a damp squib but the effervescent Italian was still all smiles at Newmarket yesterday.

Dettori's four rides all lost, with his two well-fancied mounts for Godolphin in the maidens - both debutants - finishing well beaten as they struggled in the conditions.

But after an eight-week absence having sustained a broken collar-bone in a high-speed fall at Sandown on Coral-Eclipse day, nothing could stop Dettori from celebrating as he looks forward to resuming normal business with rides at Goodwood and Windsor this weekend.

Dettori rode newcomer Princess Nada - a half-sister to star miler Dubawi - in the first division of the maiden fillies' stakes, but he never looked dangerous aboard the 9 to 2 chance and came home well down the field.

Michael Stoute's Short Skirt made a pleasing debut though, running on well under Jamie Spencer to bag the seven-furlong race by six lengths from Moonlight Magic. Dettori gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as he returned to the weighing room. "I don't feel too bad and there is no pain but I am full of adrenaline at the moment," he beamed.

"I was very nervous when I got here today with all of the things that have been in the papers - it was like an apprentice having his first ride. I have been doing a lot the past couple of weeks but just need a bit of time now to get my eye back in. I've been getting to know my family again. I even know the names of my children now."