Dettori turns freelance after amicable split with Godolphin

In a move that did not come unexpectedly, Godolphin announced Sunday that

Frankie Dettori will no longer serve as a retained rider for the stable. The

popular Italian, who had been Godolphin's premier rider for 18 years, will now

become a highly sought-after freelancer. On that basis, Dettori will continue to

accept mounts for Sheikh Mohammed's flagship operation.

Racing observers have wondered about Dettori's status within Godolphin since

earlier this year, when the team retained two up-and-coming jockeys in Silvestre

de Sousa and Mickael Barzalona as full-time riders for the stable.

The rumor

mill kicked up another gear more recently when Dettori, 42, picked up the mount

aboard Camelot, owned by Godolphin's archrival Coolmore, in the Group 1 Prix de

l'Arc de Triomphe on October 7.

"We have had a tremendous association with Frankie over many years," Racing

Manager Simon Crisford told the

Godolphin website. "He has achieved so much on behalf of Godolphin and has

made the difference between winning and losing on so many occasions in the

world's biggest races.

"However, Frankie is looking for a fresh challenge and we felt that the

retainer was not really working, so this is the best way forward. We have had

many great days together and we look forward to working with Frankie in the

future and hopefully enjoying more success together.

"He remains a great friend," Crisford noted. "The difference next year will

be that he will not be our retained jockey and will operate as a freelance

instead."

"Sheikh Mohammed has been an unbelievable boss to me. He had the confidence

to take me on board when I was young and we smashed every record together. I

will be forever grateful to him for everything he has done for me and for my

family."

Dettori captured 110 Group or Grade 1 races in the royal blue silks,

including Godolphin's first classic victory aboard Balanchine in 1994, and was

the regular rider of a host of stable stars, topped by the great Dubai

Millennium.

"The whole team have been fantastic -- none of it would have been possible

without them," Dettori said of Godolphin's dedicated staff.

Godolphin confirmed that Barzalona and de Sousa will serve as the stable's

retained riders for the 2013 season. They will be teaming up with trainers Saeed

bin Suroor and Mahmoud al Zarooni.