Frankie Dettori delights racegoers with a flying dismount after winning the Longines Sagaro Stakes on Tac De Boistron at Ascot.

By Simon Jackson at Ascot.

Frankie Dettori delighted the large crowd with a flying dismount after he landed the Group 3 feature race on Tac De Boistron at Ascot’s first flat meeting of the season on Wednesday.

Racegoers had been quick to snap up the racecourse’s offer of free entry to the grandstand for ‘Discover Ascot Raceday’ which was sold out by the time racing commenced.

The six race card was headed by the £60,000 Longines Sagaro Stakes which was won in emphatic style by the Marco Botti-trained Tac De Boistron, who benefitted from the good to soft ground conditions to score by five lengths.

Dettori held the seven-year-old off the pace, set by the front-running Harris Tweed, for the bulk of the two mile trip. He challenged at the top of the straight as the leader tired and easily drew clear from his six opponents.

“Frankie said he travelled and picked up very well,” Botti said. I think the ground is the key. Today the ground had dried out, but is was still good to soft and that is probably ideal for him.

“Anything quicker than good to soft has to be a concern. There is so many races late in the season in France such as the Prix Royal-Oak [Longchamp Group 1] that he won last year.

“We are so lucky to have him. He came back from Australia and since we got him he has done so well. The owner bought him to take to Australia for the Melbourne Cup but unfortunately it didn’t work out there. He didn’t enjoy the ground so he sent him back. Since he came to us he has started to blossom again, like a second life.”

Dettori added: “He was the class horse of the race. He likes to get his toe in and for a stayer he has got a good turn of foot.

“He was second in the Qatar Prix du Cadran and won the Royal Oak. The ground doesn’t have to be heavy, but he likes to get his toe in.”

Read ‘Horse Talk with Simon Jackson’ at London24 for the latest horse racing news.