Tag Archive for: Kincsem Park

Double for Dettori as Kincsem Park trip proves worthwhile

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Frankie Dettori treated his Hungarian fans to two of his famous flying dismounts after riding a big-race double at Kincsem Park on Saturday.

The track in Budapest was an unlikely stop on Dettori’s farewell tour ahead of his retirement at the end of the year, with the rider making the trip to Hungary for six rides.

Some familiar names featured on his book of mounts, with four horses travelling from the UK for owner Fitri Hay and her husband Jim, whose connection with Hungarian minister of defence Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky – also a key figure on the Hungarian horse racing scene – led to Dettori’s first visit to the track in his final year.

Teaming up with the Ian Williams-trained Silent Film for the first leg of his high-profile double in a local Group Two over a mile, Dettori was ideally placed on the heels of fellow Hay-owned runner Sceptic, who set sail for home under Rebeka Gonczi at the home turn.

Silent Film was always travelling the better of the two though and when Dettori gave the signal, he pulled clear for a cosy success.

Speaking to the Kincsem Park TV channel, he said: “Thanks to Jim for bringing the horses here and to put on a show is great. We gave the fans what they wanted.

“The race was run at a good tempo, we had a good spot, I followed Rebeka and the other English horse and when I pressed the button he went, so I really enjoyed it.”

Jim Hay added: “It was a fantastic race. We’re honoured to be here and I couldn’t have asked for a better finish.”

Dettori later steered the Hay-owned Splendent to victory in the Kincsem Stakes, a race which carries local Group One status.

Frankie Dettori made his visit to Kincsem Park a memorable day
Frankie Dettori made his visit to Kincsem Park a memorable day (Mike Egerton/PA)

Trained by Paul and Oliver Cole, Splendent was last seen finishing down the field in deep ground over a mile and six furlongs at Goodwood, but dropping back to 12 furlongs, Dettori made full use of his mount’s stamina.

Making his move on the last bend, Splendent galloped out to the line for a cosy success, with David Simcock’s Tides Of War coming home in third for Gonczi.

Dettori added: “We had a good start and when I got halfway around the turn, I kicked for home as I wanted to make sure 2,400 metres was 2,400 metres as he just gallops all day.

“It’s been a very good day and full credit to Jim and the trainers who have brought the horses – it’s a long way to travel and they have performed well.

“We have given the public what they wanted and this could open more doors to Hungarian racing.”



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Excitement building, with Dettori poised for debut in Hungary

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The Frankie Dettori farewell tour will hit Budapest on Saturday where the Italian will take centre stage on one of the biggest days in the Hungarian racing calendar.

Dettori will have six rides on the nine-race card but will be linking up with some familiar faces at the capital’s Kincsem Park as officials prepare to welcome British-trained raiders for the first time.

All four horses making the journey from the UK are owned by Fitri Hay and her husband Jim, whose connection with Hungarian minister of defence Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky – also a key figure on the Hungarian horse racing scene – has led to this somewhat unexpected leg of Dettori’s international swansong.

The 52-year-old is set to partner Ian Williams’ Silent Film in a local Group Two contest before getting the leg-up aboard Paul and Oliver Cole’s Splendent in the feature Kincsem Stakes, a race which carries local Group One status.

Jockey Frankie Dettori will visit Kincsem Park for the first time
Jockey Frankie Dettori will visit Kincsem Park for the first time (David Davies/PA)

Andrew Balding’s Sceptic and David Simcock’s Tides Of War are the other Hay-owned runners in action and their racing manager Alex Cole is hoping he has selected the correct squad for a fruitful venture to eastern Europe.

He said: “It’s very difficult to gauge the level for which they race, but I hope I’ve picked the right ones out of the stable rated around the 90s mark to be highly competitive.

“Horses can make days or ruin days, but fingers crossed.

“We’re all here now, Jim and Fitri are here, Frankie is here and the trainers are here. It all revolves around the Hays’ business interests, which ties in with the minister of defence who is also in charge of horse racing in Hungary.”

Mrs Fitri Hay (centre) owns the horses Frankie Dettori will ride at Kincsem Park
Mrs Fitri Hay (centre) owns the horses Frankie Dettori will ride at Kincsem Park (Steven Paston/PA)

Dettori is no stranger to winning major contests around the world but a win in Bratislava in the Slovakian Derby is the closest the well-known racing figure has come to stepping foot on Hungarian turf, with officials hoping the Italian’s visit will provide a shot in the arm for racing in the country.

They also hope the ‘Dettori factor’ will see a bumper crowd in attendance for the feature of their Autumn International Meeting, which also sees greyhound racing and trotting take place at Budapest’s Kincsem Park.

“There are four major stakes races and Dr and Mrs Hay have four horses running, two in the mile race and two in the mile and a half,” said Botond Kovacs, international liaisons officer at Kincsem Park.

“It is the first time we are hosting English-trained horses here in Budapest and we are absolutely thrilled and over the moon, especially that Frankie Dettori is here. It is a huge privilege to have both Frankie and the Hays. It is his last season and he was gracious enough to accept our invitation.

“Frankie has arrived and he says our racecourse is 10 out of 10 and hopefully we will get a good crowd, we are hoping for a number around 6,000 to 7,000, perhaps more.

“The meeting is part of a horse and greyhound festival and the Autumn International Meeting is the highlight of the year, with obviously the Kincsem Stakes the feature race of the day with 55,000 euros in the pot up for grabs.

“We are very hopeful that this meeting can put Hungarian racing back on the map of racing in Europe.”



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