Flamboyant jockey Frankie Dettori says he has no plans to retire, with plenty more big race wins in store.The number one jockey for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation, Dettori will be back in Australia this spring in an attempt to win his first Melbourne Cup.The ever-popular Italian turns 40 before the year is out, but is arguably riding as well as ever and retirement is anything but on his mind.Dettori rocketed to superstardom in 1996 with his 'Magnificent Seven' when he rode all the winners
Flamboyant jockey Frankie Dettori says he has no plans to retire, with plenty more big race wins in store.
The number one jockey for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation, Dettori will be back in Australia this spring in an attempt to win his first Melbourne Cup.
The ever-popular Italian turns 40 before the year is out, but is arguably riding as well as ever and retirement is anything but on his mind.
Dettori rocketed to superstardom in 1996 with his 'Magnificent Seven' when he rode all the winners on the Ascot card.
Dettori showed the old sparkle was still very much there when he rode a four-timer at the corresponding meeting last month.
"When I first started I just wanted to be a jockey, but I never even dreamt of being where I am now," Dettori told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Things just developed, I had some great teachers, success came, Godolphin was invented and it went nuts in 1996 when I won seven at Ascot.
"To do seven in an ordinary day is hard enough, but to do it at Ascot on a festival day - when I look back it is still a shock. Someone will do it again, but not in a hurry. It's been a dream since.
"Winning the Derby and major races all around the world has been phenomenal and I have to pinch myself every day.
"I love it, it becomes part of your life. In the first stage you start with the dream, I fulfilled those dreams and now I am on stage three where I don't have the pressure. I go to work with a smile on my face.
"It's my life, I enjoy it and I have a good stable. I think I'm riding as well as I have ever done and I will just carry on.
"I never thought I would carry on until I am 50, but I feel happy and healthy and it's not a million miles away, as long as I keep myself tidy and injury free and have a good job I'll carry on as long as I can."
One thing Dettori has never won is the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, and he is fully behind the campaign for his jumping equivalent Tony McCoy to break the mould and land the coveted honour.
The clamour to see McCoy recognised has gathered momentum ever since the National Hunt legend broke his Grand National hoodoo on Don't Push It at Aintree in April.
"In a way we were in the same scenario," Dettori said.
"I'd won every big race, but I had 15 goes at the Derby before I won it. I have to say winning the Derby is a lot easier than the National.
"To have an exceptional career like AP (McCoy), he's won everything, smashed every record, so to finish a career not having not won the National would have been devastating."