FRANKIE DETTORI was told he was the best jockey in the land by his trainer and yesterday he proved it in the most emotional way. At his 15th attempt, the three times champion won the only Classic to elude him, ending a journey that began with a horse called Pollen Count in 1992 and had wound through various levels of disappointment ever since. At times, Dettori seemed, like Sir Gordon Richards before him, destined to end his career with a significant gap in his considerable portfolio. But a horse called Authorized cared nothing for records and powered the 36-year-old rider into the land of his dreams with a thrilling and emphatic victory in the 228th Derby, sponsored by Vodafone, on an unlit Downs yesterday.

“I thought the whole word was shouting for me inside the final furlong,” said Dettori. “It was like an oil painting, it was all so beautifully smooth.” Doubtless countless photos and paintings will adorn Dettori’s Newmarket home in time, but yesterday was a triumph of patience for both the jockey and the winning trainer, Peter Chapple-Hyam, who was winning his second Derby 15 years after his first with Dr Devious.

“It was a perfect ride, a perfect race on a perfect horse,” said the trainer. Millions of punters would have echoed those sentiments. Though easing through the morning to a 5-4 favourite, Authorized was the hottest winning favourite since Nashwan in 1989. That was in part due to the colt’s supreme form; in part due to the Frankie Factor.

The industry, who had profited from Dettori’s misfortunes through more than a decade, paid in the end to the tune of £50m. One bet of £500,000 alone was waged on Authorized yesterday morning. The result was never in doubt once Dettori had unleashed the strapping Montjeu colt in one thrusting run down the centre of the track. The eight-strong regiment of trainer, Aidan O’Brien, was reduced to a trailing posse as Authorized burst clear. Eagle Mountain finished the best of the Coolmore runners, five lengths distant in second at 6-1, while Aqaleem, trained by Marcus Tregoning, was third at 9-1.

This was Frankie’s day and he milked every second. Instead of being led into the winner’s enclosure, he cantered Authorized back down the track and his trademark flying dismount almost touched the moon, despite the soreness in his knee. Just a few days before, there was doubt over his ability to ride here, but Dettori was not to be denied. This was his 12th Classic victory, one dedicated, among others to his father Gianfranco and to his boss, Sheikh Mohammed, who had released his stable jockey to make the two and a half minute ride into history.