Jockey Katie Davis has promised not to just make up the numbers in the Aug. 9 Shergar Cup and will be calling upon a certain Frankie Dettori for last-minute instructions before her Ascot debut.
Born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the 33-year-old is a multiple stakes-winning jockey in the U.S. and is set to make her first appearance across the Atlantic when she joins the Rest of the World team, which includes Karis Teetan and Hugh Bowman, in the 24th edition of the competition in Berkshire.
Davis has amassed 344 wins in the United States and was featured in the recent Netflix series "Race for the Crown," which showcased the U.S. Triple Crown and other events.
Although Davis has been a licensed jockey since 2013, she is giving herself the best opportunity to make a name for herself at the royal track with a planned video call with the three-time champion jockey Dettori, who is synonymous with Ascot and also happened to be featured in the Netflix series.
Davis said, "He's messaged me like three times already. He kept telling me not to forget to call him when the entries came out. He was saying 'You better call me, you better call me.''
"We were breezing with Wesley (Ward) before I left for England, and I told him not to worry. I told him I had WhatsApp so he could call. I'm going to give him a ring so he can analyze it for me. It'll be fun and I'm here to win, trust me."
In September 1996, Dettori achieved a near-impossible feat when winning all seven races on the card at Ascot, and Davis was asked if she'd celebrate with a flying dismount (for which Dettori is known) if she returns to the winner's enclosure on Saturday.
She said: "I won't do it here, but I could do it here. I'm going to tell him that I've taken his trademark, but he stole it from Angel Cordero Jr.
"I know he's the king, and I'll go and look at his statues. I was in Maryland, and one of my trainers and owners said I needed to do a Frankie dismount. I looked at him after I won, and he told me I had to do it, so I did."
Having played a key role in the "Race for the Crown" series, Davis believes the three-part show has been a major positive for the sport.
"I do believe the show has helped the sport develop," she said. "When it comes to racing, anything positive is good. It's so easy to point the finger at one negative thing because it can explode into something else."
Asked if it has helped her own career, she said: "Yes and no. From a trainer's aspect, it builds connections with owners, but as a jockey you still have to perform. If you're not performing, then they don't care. It's about that one trainer giving you that opportunity on one horse to prove that you can do it."
The Shergar Cup is another exciting moment in Davis's career, and she is relishing the chance to perform on the big stage at Ascot.
She said: "Words can't explain how much I'm looking forward to it. There's no pressure as I work well under pressure, it's more of an excitement for me. I'll definitely enjoy every part of it, especially the team element as that can make it more comfortable."
