The show goes on vows Dettori before winning on only ride

Frankie Dettori revealed on Racing TV on Saturday that he intends to carry on riding until at least the end of next season after his surprise split with John and Thady Gosden.

Dettori spoke to Chris Dixon before racing at Newmarket on Saturday, saying he wanted to reassure viewers that he has no intention of retiring any time soon after a turbulent few days.

And as if to remind everyone of his powers, if that was required, he then won on his only ride at the track, guiding the Ralph Beckett-trained Lezoo to victory in the Listed Maureen Brittain Memorial Empress Fillies' Stakes ay 16-5.

On his return to a packed winner's enclosure, he punched the air, blew kisses and then treated racegoers to one of his trademark flying dismounts. It's unlkely many winners in recent times will have given him as much satisfaction.

“I’m definitely going to do this year and next year,” the 51-year-old said to Dixon. “I’m riding in Istanbul tomorrow, in the Derby, and the German Derby next week. I've [also] got a couple of weekends in Belmont and Saratoga so I'm pretty busy the next month.

“If you don't see me riding domestically it's not because I gave up, but because I'm actually abroad. I am intending to ride all of this year and definitely next year.

“It’s a new start and I will take a step at a time. I just came here, on your channel, to reassure everyone that I'm not stopping. If I'm away this month it’s because I'm away abroad. I'll be back, I guess, for King George weekend [at Ascot] and then go on to Goodwood.”

Dettori met with Gosden Sr on Friday, with the latter latter saying in a statement that they had agreed to a sabbatical.

"Me and John had a the meeting yesterday and we decided to give each other a break, or a sabbatical," Dettori said. "We are still good friends and I shall be forever be grateful for what John has done for me in the past."

Dettori would not expand on everything discussed in the meeting, or whether the door was open for a possible return. "I'm not going to details, it's not fair on the pair of us. Like I said, and like John said, we are having a sabbatical."

Dettori did not let the off-course drama impact his racetrack performance though, as he delivered Lezoo with a perfectly-timed challenge to win going away by a length and three-quarters.

“I haven’t been away, I’ve only been off for five days! I’m really touched by the support though and I didn’t expect that, so it was great,” he said afterwards.

Lezoo is co-owned by Dettori’s friend Marc Chan and his racing manager Jamie McCalmont was thrilled to see the rider demonstrate his undoubted talents.

He said: “What can we say about Frankie’s ride – he hasn’t lost it, has he? Let’s leave it at that. It feels good and it’s great to see him have this reception. I’m quite emotional, it’s like winning a Group One race and it’s a Listed race.”

The Gosdens won with one of their three runners on the card, with Rab Havlin guiding Mimikyu to victory in the fillies' handicap. The other pair were placed.

Gosden Sr spoke to Dixon after Mimikyu's success but had said beforehand that he didn't want to talk about parting company with Dettori.