THOROUGHOUT his stellar career in the saddle, Ascot has been Frankie Dettori’s biggest stage and his home ground, so to speak.

From his first Group 1 win on Markofdistinction, his Magnificent Seven in 1996, to his three King Georges on Enable, it’s been a track he has ridden better than any.

Many have asked what will racing do for an instantly recognisable and a media-savvy personality when Frankie retires?

The answer came this week, if we were not aware of it already when, after seven years of the Royal Ascot leading rider award being shared by Ryan Moore and Dettori, Oisin Murphy broke their stronghold on the title.

He was only joint fourth favourite at 12/1 to be the top jockey at the meeting, behind Dettori, Moore and Jim Crowley. His five winners came at odds from 18/1 to 7/2, with Quickthorn the only favourite. He also lost one ‘winner’ in the stewards’ room.

Over the last few seasons, he has positively embraced social media, posting his own debriefs of his rides, and occasionally giving a rail-side commentary on big races where he did not have a ride, most notable the Derby where his one-time mount Adayar won under Adam Kirby.

He had the same ‘blot the copybook’ moment last season with a drugs ban as Dettori had in his younger days, though Murphy denies having ever taken illegal substances.

While Dettori got the Commonwealth Cup from Murphy in the stewards’ room, Dettori received criticism for his ride on Stradivarius in the Gold Cup.

Perhaps this was a marker meeting in the changing of the guard – and not just those on ‘royal’ duty.