Frankie Dettori admits he was ‘too tired to cry’ after final race as Free Wind was BEATEN

Frankie Dettori bowed out of Royal Ascot last night saying he was ‘too tired to cry’ but delighted with how his final try at his favourite meeting had been a success with four winners.

In the end, the best Dettori could do from his final day, which had started with being part of the royal carriage procession from Windsor Castle and up the Ascot straight, was his fourth place on Mum’s Tipple in the Wokingham Stakes.

His big hope Free Wind, the 6-4 favourite for the Hardwicke Stakes, lacked the pace to get involved and was beaten three lengths in fifth behind Pyledriver.

Covey also started favourite at 11-4 for the Jersey Stakes but after leading for the first five of the seven furlongs, she faded into ninth behind Age of Kings.

With Kinross only seventh to Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes, you sensed that the fairy-tale ending for the guy who has the best scriptwriter in the business was going to elude Dettori — and so it proved.

Frankie Dettori rode Knockbrex in his last Royal Ascot race before retiring 

Dettori waved farewell to fans at Royal Ascot after riding his final race on Saturday

The jockey admitted that he was simply ‘too tired to cry’ when saying farewell to his career

History books will record that the Italian’s final Royal Ascot ride was the Charlie Johnston-trained Knockbrex in the Golden Gates Stakes.

The pair broke well and led but approaching the home turn the writing was on the wall and his mount finished in 12th, almost 30 lengths behind winner Burdett Road.

That left his haul for the week as four wins, three seconds and two thirds from 25 rides.

It left Dettori, whose first ever royal meeting win was on Markofdistinction in the 1990 Queen Anne Stakes, with 81 winners.

Getting the three victories he needed to get to 80 had been the target he set himself and Dettori, who was due to celebrate with a family meal in London last night — appropriately in a London pizza restaurant — was delighted that he can still say he is the second most successful jockey at the meeting behind the 116 wins of Lester Piggott even though Ryan Moore, who now has 79 wins after his six this week, will no doubt over take him next year.

Dettori looked emotional after a week which he described as being ‘so hard’ for him

Dettori said: ‘I’m too tired to cry. This week has been so hard but I have loved it. It’s not hit me yet and I am a bit sad that it’s my last Royal Ascot because it’s been so good.

‘I can still claim I retired second in the all-time list at the greatest meeting in the world at Royal Ascot behind Lester Piggott. I’m sure it won’t last beyond next year but can cherish it for 12 more months.

‘I was sad this morning but once I was up and running and doing things it was fine. I’m sure I will be sad in a couple of days but at the moment I am just too tired to cry, if that makes sense.

‘It’s all pretty amazing, hectic, being cheered left, right and centre by everyone. It’s been overwhelming. But also I didn’t have time to get emotional. I will enjoy this moment and I’m looking forward to a nice beer.’

Being a part of the carriage procession with wife Catherine clearly left an impression on the best-known jockey in Britain, although he revealed the business of the day for a Flat jockey meant he had not being able to indulge in lunch at Windsor Castle, although he was in good company.

Free Wind, the 6-4 favourite for the Hardwicke Stakes, fell to defeat as Dettori bowed out

He added: ‘I didn’t eat lunch. I had a full-fat cola. I looked across and the King wasn’t eating, either. We were both fasting. I don’t know why because I was riding and he wasn’t. He must be on a diet!

‘In the carriage it was an amazing experience, to look at the grandstand. The whole ride from Windsor Castle to here, the love the people have for the royals, the flags, the kids, the picnics next to the road. The banners, shouting and cheering was amazing.

‘I was in the last carriage so by the time i got to them I think they forgot but it was a great experience. Now I’m looking forward to a nice dinner, taking a few days off with my wife, then I will regroup and start again.’

So far since Dettori announced this will be his last season, the ebullient rider has looked in control of his emotions, seemingly managing to let the fact that he is getting to the final few furlongs affect him too much.

Looking into his eyes yesterday was the first time you have detected a hint of sadness, maybe even regret. But he has been insistent that Champions Day back at Ascot will be his last day riding in Britain.

Riding on Knockbrex, Dettori bowed out of an illustrious career as the jocket retires

Beyond that there may be forays around the globe, the Breeders’ Cup in the US obviously and do not rule out Australia, Hong Kong, Japan or the Middle East. There are plenty of racing jurisdictions that would like him to race with them and they will pay well for it to happen.

The Ascot Authority presented Dettori with a saddle cloth with the No 81 on it — they had had five made up just in case to cover any winner eventuality — plus a Nebuchadnezzar of champagne.

It is a ritual Dettori is getting used to but one thing did not go plan.

His wife presented the prizes for the final race, the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Surely, the idea was that he would have won the race and in a Hollywood ending been embraced on the podium.

But Dettori did not have a ride and the race was won by Moore on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Dawn Rising.

‘She’s cross with me because I’m not riding it,’ he joked.

It was said with a smile but you get the feeling keeping the emotions in check will get tougher and tougher as the final day arrives, as he added: ‘Listen, I’m not going to die! I’m riding for another four months, I will still be around, so don’t make me sad.’