The 3rd July 1997, and I had a horse called Hasta La Vista down to run at Catterick in the Turmeric Handicap. Looking at the runners and riders I noticed that Frankie Dettori was making the journey to Catterick to ride for Sheikh Mohammed and my pal, trainer John Gosden.

I knew that Hasta La Vista's owners, Mr and Mrs Hodgson, were big fans of the 26 year-old Italian. Frankie was one of the best in the world, having etched his name into racing history the previous year with his bookie-bashing magnificent seven at Ascot. I decided to treat them by booking him to ride both of their runners, Hasta La Vista and also William's Well who was down to run in the last race on the card. Hasta was usually the ride of Terry Lucas but Terry understood and he had a couple of other rides for me on the card that afternoon.

The money was down, and every man and his dog had latched onto the booking and with his form reading 21212 Hasta La Vista was due for another win! The handicapper had only raised him 13 pounds for his last five races and he was sent off as the 11/8 favourite which in the context of things was a generous price.

I’d fancied the horse to win and I spoke to Frankie before the race.

"He'll win", I said to the Italian. "Give 'em a show after won't yer?"

Frankie just nodded.

"If he wins", he said in his distinctive Italian accent and, with a glint in his eye, off he went.

I always liked to get the best jockey available to ride my horses and the smile on Mrs Hodgson's face as she watched Frankie legged up on top weight Hasta La Vista was priceless.

The result was never in doubt. Frankie dictated the race and led from start to finish, coming home a length and a half to the good of Tancred Mischief who was carrying 19 pounds of weight less than our horse.

With a beaming smile Mrs Hodgson proudly led Hasta into the winners' enclosure and Frankie didn't disappoint. He caught my eye, gave a big smile and then treated the Catterick faithful to a flying dismount, a trademark usually reserved for the big races. It was Thursday afternoon and horses and jockeys seemed to outnumber the small crowd of diehard spectators but seeing Frankie leaping off Hasta La Vista would be something they’d remember for many a year.

I sung his praises afterwards. He'd ridden a beautiful race and his judgement of the pace had been perfection.

I was hoping for a repeat in the last as William's Well was backed down to 3/1 but Frankie couldn't quite get him home and the owners had to make do with a first and a second.

Hasta La Vista was a tough horse. One of the toughest horses I've trained in over 60 years. He ran 22 times in that 1997 season. His career stats showed 17 wins from 126 starts, and of those 17 wins his highest winning mark was 56 when he'd won at Southwell in 1994. He ran for a remarkable 11 seasons on the flat and also managed three runs over hurdles.

We had a nice retirement planned for him when the curtain came down at Catterick in 2002 but tragically Hasta would only enjoy a year out in the paddocks and died suddenly in 2004. He'll always be remembered here, he was as tough as teak and a racehorse owner's dream.