HKIR News : Dettori claims second International Jockeys' Championship

12 December 2001

In a thrilling climax to the three-race contest, the brilliant Italian-born jockey beat the leading Australian star, Damien Oliver, by one point.

Dettori scored the maximum 12 points when landing the first race on the odds-on Noble Boy and kept his score moving by finishing fifth, picking up two points, in both the second and third legs. Oliver won the final race by a whisker on Lomond's Fay, which took his score to 15 after he had grabbed a fourth in the second leg. He denied America's great Hall Of Fame jockey, Gary Stevens his first Hong Kong win since 1999 on Indubitably Bliss. Olivier Peslier won the middle leg on Successful Spirit.

Dettori, fresh from another event for international jockeys last weekend in Mauritius, collected a cheque for HK$200,000. Oliver was handed one for HK$100,000. Eddy Lei did the best of the home riders by finishing fifth with seven points.

A thrilled Dettori said: "It is tremendous to be able to come back to Hong Kong and do something like this. I have certainly had a terrific start to this week. Now the serious business is on Sunday."

Dettori rides Ekraar, China Visit and Tobougg for Godolphin in the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.

Oliver was graceful in defeat. He said: "I would have loved to have won the Championship but when you are going against guys like Frankie, Olivier Peslier and the rest, you are in for a tough ride. Second still looks pretty good. I'm going to celebrate and give myself a drink."