Frankie Dettori brought a little bit of sparkle to a moderate card at Catterick yesterday when he turned in a masterly exhibition of front-running to win the Turmeric Handicap on Hasta La Vista.
The popular Italian dictated the near two-mile race from the start.
He set a moderate pace before stepping up the tempo coming out of the back straight.
He had a willing partner in the consistent Hasta La Vista who stretched out well inside the final furlong to beat off the challenge of Tancred Mischief and win by a length and a half.
Mick Easterby, who trains the successful 11-8 favourite for Ken Hodgson, made sure that Dettori received a warm welcome on his return to the winner's enclosure.
The handler turned cheer-leader and coaxed the crowd into giving the Italian a warm reception.
The locals needed no second invitation and Dettori reciprocated as he performed one of his Group One flying dismounts which did seem a little over the top at humble Catterick.
Easterby, taking time off from chewing his handkerchief, exclaimed: "Frankie stole the race - that's why he is such a great jockey. I keep falling out with him, but we always make up."
The trainer, who has now sent out Hasta La Vista, William's Well and Jedi Knight to win seven races for Hodgson in the past five weeks, added: "I said to Mr Hodgson that I would like to have ten winners for him this season, so I've just got three to go."
Dettori tried his best to complete a double for Easterby on William's Well in the Auteuil Handicap, but the 3-1 chance was headed by Rum Lad entering the final quarter-mile and went under by a length and a half.
