FRANKIE DETTORI was hit with a £10,000 fine for breaking racing rules as he hinted his legendary career could be drawing to an end.
The iconic Italian, 51, guided 15-2 Country Grammer to a £5.3million victory in the Dubai World Cup at Meydan racecourse last weekend.
Dettori rode his Bob Baffert-trained mount to lead with 165 yards to go and the five-year-old found plenty to see off Hot Rod Charlie.
But upon viewing the race stewards noticed Dettori 'excessively' broke whip rules by striking the horse 13 times.
Dettori was said to have earned £530,000 for his winning ride, according to bloodhorse.com.
So the £10,000 fine he received barely touched the sides on his mega pay day.
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And it hardly compared to the estimated £70,000 fine David Egan received for falling foul of the same rule when riding Mishriff to victory in the Saudi Cup in 2021.
The stewards' report into Dettori's ride read: "Jockey L Dettori (COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA)) was fined AED 50,000 (£10,000) under the provisions of ERA Rule 69B(a) for using the whip to excess, in that he used it on 13 occasions.
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"In assessing the penalty Stewards noted that today’s event was a Group 1 race worth US$12million (£9m) and that he won the race."
Dettori appeared none the wiser about his rules infraction in the aftermath of victory.
The jockey, winning one of the world's most lucrative races for a fourth time, said: "When the draw came out, I had just wanted to put him on the fence.
"At the half-mile, I wasn't able to keep on with the front two but in the end they came back to me.
"At the furlong pole, it was surreal as I knew I was going to win.
"It's just unbelievable. It's like a dream!"
Dettori also said he is now taking it 'once race at a time' as he enters the twilight of his career.
He told Sky Sports Racing: "The only thing I regret is that I'm 51 and not in my 20s anymore.
"I'm enjoying it, but how long can I keep this up for? How long will I be popular for? I really don't know.
"I'll enjoy one race at a time and one year at a time and see what the future holds.
"Nowadays with the diet, nutritionists and physios, you can look at any sport and see people like Roger Federer still going. There is more longevity but I'm still 51 and can't take the years off me.
"At the moment I feel fit and well and I'm still popular but we'll take it one season at a time."
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