Dave Mollett
When world-renowned jockey, Frankie Dettori, finally arrives at the "Pearly Gates" he can justifyably say "Well, that was some sort of journey on Planet Earth."
Every sportsman has his ups and downs - just ask Manchester United's Wayne Rooney - but the 45 year-old Italian has had more than most.
It's wonderful that he's back in South Africa for another internationaal meetings at Fairview and Turffontein as it gives racing fans the chance to see a legend in the flesh that you otherwise only see on Tellytrack.
At the "Pearly Gates", Frankie might need an hour or two to divulge all that has happened in his career since his first winner in Britain in June 1987.
Let's look at the upside first.
Derby wins on Authorized and Golden Horn, a Dubai World Cup win on Dubai Millennium, 18 year relationship with Godolphin which set him up financially for life, the amazing feat of riding all seven winners at Ascot in September 1996 and - in August of this year - riding his 3000th winner at racing's UK headquarters, Newmarket.
A tie-up with Qatari Sheikh Joaan Al Thani ensures that Frankie's lovely wife, Catherine, will be able to afford a holiday home in the Bahamas - or even Mauritius - if she so desires!
And the downside.
In 2000 he nearly lost his life in a light plane crash taking off from Newmarket in which the pilot died, a six-month worldwide ban from French authorities after failing a drugs test and then being dumped by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.
Down in the dumps was just how Frankie was feeling three years ago. He also seemed to be deserted by many in racing who had previously been his close allies - something that often occurs when people feel you are on a downward spiral.
But there's a saying in life that things often change for the better - that's the case with Frankie who has never really lost the support of the public who consider him one of their favourite sons like Wayne Rooney in football and Ian Botham in cricket.
It's regrettable that Piere Strydom - a jockey who has ridden 2000 more winners than Frankie - isn't in the SA side, particularly in his home town of Port Elizabeth. Any newspaper editor worth his salt would have ordered posters proclaiming STRIKER v FRANKIE.
As it is, the posters they can now print are GAVIN v FRANKIE as no SA jockey has been in better form in the last few months than 31 year-old, Gavin Lerena. This time last year he ensured that his family had everything they possibly wanted for Christmas by winning an international jockeys challenge in Hong Kong, he rode two winners at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot and, more recently, has captured both the Grand Heritage Handicap and R1 million Peermont Emperors Charity Mile.
With champion jockey and team captain S'manga Khumalo back amongst the winners, the SA side will have good leadership, but without both Strydom and Anton Marcus this is perhaps a chance for the visitors to notch a victory which has mainly eluded them since it all began in 2008.
It will be a learning curve for young debutantes Grant van Niekerk and Aldo Domeyer as they'll not only be taking on Frankie, but several other talented jocks including Robert Havlin who rides plenty of horses for John Gosden and Fergus Sweeney who is often used by my favourite UK trainer, Alan King.
Hayley Turner, who scored such a memorable last gasp win on a Steve Moffatt runner a year ago, rode at the Shergar Cup and has brought her saddle to South Africa. As always, she'll be a tough competitor.
Hopefully, the draw of horses will make sure that the 12 jockeys involved each get a horse with a strong chance over the two meetings - it doesn't matter how good a rider you are, it's impossible to get a formless runner over the line.
Frankie, Mick Kinane and myself visited Mala Mala courtesy of Mike Rattray a couple of years ago, so it will be nice to catch up with the livewire Italian at Turffontein next Sunday. I hope he wins a race at Fairview or the city track so he can treat the crowd to one of his trademark flying dismounts.
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The draw for the Sansui Summer Cup will take place at lunchtime today and - as I love a dabble in the ante-post market - I'm going to recommend another runner to go alongside my early tip, Liege.
A place bet looks mighty attractive now that Betting World are paying out on five places and the horse I'm recommending is Ten Gun Salute who is around the 20-1 mark.
The one worry about Duncan Howell's Aussie import is whether he'll stay the testing Turffontein 2000 metres - particularly if the going comes up soft.
The four year-old did win a 2000m race at Greyville last December, but that was a minor seven-runner affair and his July run (three lengths behind The Conglomerate) added to the debate as to what is the son of Henrythenavigator's optimum trip.
It's a race in which five-times champion, Geoff Woodruff, has an outstanding record so don't be surprised if the stable takes top honours once again. However, a quartet double floating Liege and Ten Gun Salute makes plenty of appeal.
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