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TOPS ON THE TURF

LANFRANCO (Frankie) DETTORI is the most recognisable of the elite stars of world racing.

Born in Milan on December 15 1970, the son of Gianfranco, a multiple champion jockey in Italy, he left his homeland for England to join Luca Cumani's Newmarket yard as an apprentice in July 1985.

He became British apprenticechampion in 1989 and was soon being compared with the great riders, as he became the first teenager since Lester Piggott to ride a century of winners in a season when recording 141 successes in 1990.

The Italian rider has since captured the hearts of racegoers with a flamboyant style that sees him perform flying dismounts after major victories.

RICHARD HUGHES (born January 11 1973) is an Irish flat jockey. Born in Dublin, he is the son of successful National Hunt trainer Dessie Hughes.

His main provider of rides has been trainer Richard Hannon and, from 2001 to 2007, he was also retained by the owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah.

MICHAEL KINANE was born in 1959. Horse racing is in his blood; his father Tommy Kinane had great success as a National Hunt rider.

Over a period of two decades, Kinane has been a prolific winner of theClassic races of England, Ireland and France.

He has won the 2000 Guineas three times, the Breeders Cup three times, the Epsom Derby three times, and the Belmont Stakes in America once. He has been crowned champion jockey of Ireland many times over.

DARRYLL "The Dazzler" HOLLAND was Champion Apprentice Jockey in England in 1991, setting a new post-war record for the number of wins by an apprentice in one season.

In only his second full season, he finished 11th in the Professional Jockeys League table. He is one of the most experienced race riders in the world today.

In 1994 he was invited to take part in the Young Jockeys World Championship in Japan.

CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON was born in Brussels, Belgium, on June 4 1981. Soumillon was destined to be part of the horse racing community, as his father is jumping jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon.

Soumillon, injured midway through 2009, is back in action and keen to ride winners. He was a member of the 2008 team against South Africa and rode Oracy to victory.

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