Frankie Dettori was a potent force in Godolphin's rise to becoming a superpower Sheikh Mohammed and Dettori had always seemed close. In post-race celebrations after big-race victories in the Dubai World Cup, the Arc, the Guineas, Oaks or St Leger, Dettori had always warmly embraced the man he called "the boss." Bear-hugs became commonplace, often with Sheikh Mohammed being lifted off the ground by the jockey. Most rulers of countries would probably demand protocol be followed, but Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed, and his entourage, seemed to enjoy the frivolity, particularly after a big win. Godolphin and Dettori grew together, starting with Balanchine in the Oaks and Irish Derby of 1994, peaking with Dubai Millennium in 1999, and then consolidating with Fantastic Light in 2001. With a constant flow of top class horses, the elite stable was thriving, and Dettori was one of the most visible players in the operation. It has to be remembered that Sheikh Mohammed not only created Godolphin to indulge his passion for horse ownership, he also wanted to establish a global brand that would make Dubai popular and advertise it as a tourist destination and a centre for everything from medical science, technology and media, to banking and finance. Godolphin, identified by its royal blue silks, became an important part of that drive, and Dettori's signature flying dismount attracted publicity worldwide that was helpful to Dubai. Whatever he was being paid - and it is rumoured that his retainer was seven figures - Dettori looked good value. His personality and flamboyance off the track were seen as gold dust, and he was arguably the world's best rider, in any case.. But did it just become too close to a Frankie Dettori show rather than one showcasing Godolphin and Dubai? Whether there is any truth in that or whether it was because Godolphin had just started expanding, unexpectedly, in various directions, there is no doubt the introduction of a second trainer, Mahmood Al Zarooni, was a catalyst in the shifting of fortunes for Dettori. Mickael Barzalona, the young Frenchman who had so flamboyantly won the Derby on Pour Moi, had impressed with his riding during two winters in Dubai, and when Godolphin needed a second jockey, he was recruited. Al Zarooni soon made it clear he preferred Barzalona to Dettori, and with the Dubai World Cup and the St Leger both having been won by the Frenchman, the frustration to the yard's appointed No 1 was increasingly obvious. Dettori, at 41, still has another decade of riding ahead of him if he remains injury free. He is a superb stylist in the saddle and his experience is invaluable. He is said to be eager to chase the jockeys" title in 2013, but that day-in day-out grind will not suit him. He is a man for the big occasion, which should always place him in demand.