It is "soul destroying" says Frankie Dettori as he misses all of Royal Ascot

The popular Italian was thrown from the John Gosden-trained Tivoli in the paddock last Tuesday and suffered an arm injury.

Dettori was passed fit enough to ride Shutter Speed in to fourth in Sunday’s Prix de Diane, and had been 9-2 to be the leading jockey at the royal meeting.

“I’ve been trying so hard to get fit for today but had to accept this morning it wasn’t going to happen,” he said in a statement.

“I’ve got to have physio and get it properly looked at so won’t be at Ascot this week. For me that’s soul destroying as it’s the most important week of the year. I’ll be counting the days until next year.”

Dettori was due to take four mounts on Tuesday, including King’s Stand Stakes favourite Lady Aurelia.

His other rides were American Patriot in the Queen Anne Stakes, Denaar in the Coventry Stakes, Nootka Sound in the Windsor Castle Stakes.

Dettori, 46, is still recognised as one of the world’s top jockeys, and his love affair with Ascot has flourished ever since riding all seven winners on the card there in September, 1996.

He has ridden 56 Royal Ascot winners and only Ryan Moore preferred to him in the betting to be top jockey this week.

Dettori, who had four winners at the meeting last year, had many superb rides to look forward to over the coming days courtesy of Al Shaqab, John Gosden and Wesley Ward.

John Velazquez will now take over on Lady Aurelia. He has ridden her home and on the track, including when she won on her return, and partnered Ward's first two Royal Ascot winners in 2009.