FRANKIE DETTORI says fellow sporting legend Cristiano Ronaldo has shown him how not to retire.
The Italian announced his retirement late last year, wanting to go out "will all his best powers".
He will have his final rides in Britain at Ascot's British Champions Day on October 21, before heading on to the Breeders' Cup, Melbourne Cup and Japan Cup.
Dettori has already started his farewell tour in explosive fashion and has won four Group 1 races this year.
That includes two British Classics, the 2000 Guineas on Chaldean and the Oaks aboard Soul Sister for long-time boss John Gosden.
The 52-year-old is still at the peak of his powers and he wants to go out in a blaze of glory, something he believes Ronaldo hasn't been able to do with is final stint at Al Nassr.
He told BettingSites: "I want go out at the top – look at Cristiano Ronaldo.
"In his last few games for Manchester United as a player, before he went to Saudi Arabia, he was probably not as excited or as on top of his game as he was at Man Utd in his glory days. I wouldn't want to end like that.
"You are only one fall away from stopping, and at my age when I do fall, I break.
"In the old days I used to have 1200 rides a year, now it’s probably 250. The more rides, the more chance you have of falling off."
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Dettori has enjoyed a wealth of success at Royal Ascot and is the king of the meeting, becoming the only rider to win all seven winners on the card in 1996.
If there's one place Dettori wants to succeed at before he hangs up his whip, it's Ascot.
He said: "Royal Ascot is my favourite place in the world without question. It is like the Olympics of racing, but the difference is it takes place every year.
"It is the biggest and best week of my year, I know that I come alive there and I’m in a different zone.
"It lifts me every time and this year will be so special because it will be my last ever Royal Ascot."
Dettori has enjoyed a long and prosperous partnership with the Gosdens and kept going with the footballing analogies.
He added: "He doesn’t overwork me, he gives me confidence when I need it and gives me a kick up the backside when I need it.
"He is a good manager of people, a bit like José Mourinho was in his heyday."
Dettori has four rides booked on the opening day of Royal Ascot and will team up with the hot favourite Inspiral in the first race of the meeting.
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He is also jocked up on Manaccan in the King's Stand and has the box office ride on Chaldean in the St James's Palace.
Saga was a very unlucky loser in last year's Britannia Stakes under Dettori and the pair will hope to make amends in the Wolferton.
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