Frankie Dettori gets the winner he craved at his final Royal Ascot

Frankie Dettori grabbed the winner he craved at his final Royal Ascot when landing the Queen’s Vase on Gregory on Wednesday.

It had taken the 52-year-old nine rides and a series of near-misses to land his 78th royal meeting success and the relief was clear as he pretended to throw a metaphorical monkey off his back before treating racegoers to a trademark flying dismount.

Dettori, who retires at the end of the season, said: ‘You get to your last ride of day two and you start to think, “I have had a few favourites and seconds”, so yes, it was a relief. I knew this would be my best chance.

‘A winner at this meeting was on my bucket list in my final season, so to achieve it is great. I thought this winner was never going to come. I’m sad and happy. I’ve still got three more days but at least I’ve got one on the board. It is the only day all my family are here so to ride a winner is great. We are chasing 80 now! I got a great reception but it was an even-money favourite with me on!’

After three second places from five rides on Tuesday, when he also picked up a nine-day careless riding ban on unplaced Saga in the Wolferton Stakes, Dettori’s best finish from his first three rides yesterday was the third place of Prosperous Voyage in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

Going into the third day without a win would have ramped up the pressure on the Italian, but he insisted he felt very relaxed.

Dettori delivered a perfectly judged front-running ride on Gregory, trained by John and Thady Gosden, who beat Oisin Murphy-ridden Saint George by a length and a half, pulling clear in the final 50 yards. Dettori said: ‘I knew this horse was good enough but I wasn’t so sure about his experience. He is very laid back and I thought, “If he doesn’t start well, he might get lost”. But he jumped out well, got to the front and I knew he would stay.

‘I was in front a long time and when Oisin Murphy came to me I thought, “Oh no, not second again”. But this horse really stuck his neck out.’

Dettori is now chasing further glory at Royal Ascot as he aims to reach 80 royal meeting wins

The final Classic of the season, the St Leger at Doncaster on September 16, is Gregory’s target now and John Gosden said the colt would have one more run beforehand.

Dettori’s ban means he will miss his Eclipse Stakes ride on the favourite Emily Upjohn on July 8. He added: ‘I have my lawyers looking at it. I am sad to be missing Emily but it is one of those things. If there is a good case to appeal, I will, but I will not waste everyone’s time.’

Dettori has a full book of seven rides on Thursday, including 10-1 shot Courage Mon Ami in the Gold Cup. His shortest-priced ride is 11-2 chance Epictetus in the Hampton Court Stakes.

Dettori stated that a winner at this meeting was ‘on his bucket list’ in his final season