Leap of Faith

Sporting genius, icon and legend, Frankie Dettori, shares his remarkable life story in his most personal autobiography to date. When Lanfranco 'Frankie' Dettori arrived on British shores in 1985, aged just 14, he couldn't speak a word of English. Having left school just a year earlier, he was eager to become a stable boy and apprentice jockey, following in the footsteps of his father. This was his first, but certainly not his last, leap of faith. Despite his slight size, Frankie's impact upon the British racing scene was immediate and significant. Brimming with confidence, charisma and personality, and with what was clearly a precocious talent, he became the first teenager since Lester Piggot to win over 100 races in a single season. Soon enough, Frankie was established as a celebrity in the sport and became an adopted national treasure, but it was his extraordinary achievement of winning all seven races in a single day at Ascot that cemented his reputation as the greatest rider of his generation. Nearly 25 years later, and having won the Longines World's Best Jockey for three consecutive years running, Frankie has demonstrated an unparalled level of longevity at the pinnacle of his sport. But his story is not simply one of uninterrupted success, but also of personal anguish, recovery and restoration – both in and out of the saddle. Now, for the very first time, Frankie compellingly reveals the hurdles he's overcome; the plane crash that nearly killed him, the drugs ban that nearly made him quit the sport, and the acrimonious split from Godolphin that threatened his future. But Leap of Faith is also a story of love – for the sport he continues to dominate to this day, the great horses of his era (Stradivarius, and Enable amongst them), and most importantly for his family, who have supported him every step of the way. Heartfelt and intimate, this iconic book is a moving masterclass in how to pick yourself up, keep going and keep believing, no matter what life throws your way. · Frankie Dettori is the face of horse racing, a brilliant ambassador for the sport, and will be a huge asset for PR across key media on launch· His longevity at the top of his sport is almost unparalleled and he continues to ride winners in the biggest races across the world – he is a truly global superstar· He has a very strong sales track record with over 90,000 TCM copies sold of his previous book from 2004 · Frankie will be appearing at the biggest race meetings across the UK and Ireland throughout the Summer and into October, including Royal Ascot, the Guineas meeting at Newmarket and the Epsom Derby Competition: Frankie: The Autobiography;My Autobiography;When You Dead, You Dead;Behind the Mask;Worms to Catch;Life to the Limit;Ruby: The Autobiography;Winner: My Racing Life;Form;The Sure Thing. By;Guy Martin;Tyson Fury;Jenson Button;A.P. McCoy;Ruby Walsh;Kieren Fallon;Nick Townsend