3 minute read

Kazuo Yokoyama makes perfect start

Japanese star Kazuo Yokoyama made the perfect start on his Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut as he steered Rogue Lightning (9/1) to victory for Rest of the World in the opening five-furlong Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash.

Trained by Tom Clover, Rogue Lightning came home strongly from the rear to win by just under two lengths. He led home a one-two for Rest of the World, with Intrinsic Bond a clear second under leading Hong Kong pilot Matthew Chadwick. Dream Composer, ridden by Frankie Dettori, stayed on well up the stands' rail to grab third.

Speaking via a translator, Yokoyama said: "I was a bit tense but, now I've ridden and won the race, I am myself again.

"The horse was in the best condition and the track was also in the best condition. It is one of the best racecourses in the world.

"Tom [Clover, trainer] gave us precise advice, so I tried to place the horse in a very relaxed position behind other horses and he quickened in the last furlong."

Irish raider The Very Man strikes

The Very Man (9/4F) came from last to first under a power-packed Hollie Doyle to win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers for the Ladies team.

The Jessica Harrington-trained winner, who was having his first Flat start outside of Ireland, came with a withering run down the outside to clear away and score by three and a quarter lengths.

Runner-up Berkshire Rocco kept on well for Matthew Chadwick, while The Grand Visir was third under Great Britain & Ireland captain Luke Morris.

Doyle said: "The Very Man is very straightforward. He never runs a bad race and he deserved to get his head in front today like that. He doesn't do anything quickly but today he actually showed a nice turn of foot from where he was positioned.

"I wasn't too worried [with her race position]. Jessie said he can run in snatches but keep hold of him and he will keep finding. I just wanted to keep hold of his head because the ground was loose down the back, and he was struggling a little bit on that.

Ladies rule supreme in Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge

Saffie Osborne narrowly got the better of teammate Hollie Doyle in a cracking finish to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge as 11/2 chance Scampi dug deep to continue the brilliant form of trainer Andrew Balding.

Scampi came from off the pace to join Wootton'Sun (17/2) entering the final furlong and Osborne managed to get her mount's head down on the line.

There were twelve lengths back to the third-placed Youthful King (10/1), who picked up some much-needed points for Europe rider Olivier Peslier.

Osborne said: "Hollie [Doyle] said she thought I had won but I didn't want to count my chickens! Hollie's horse was unbelievably tough but so was this lad. Andrew filled me with so much confidence and it's great because he's got so many owners and everything like that."

"To be here is amazing. The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is a competition that I watched a lot as a kid and to be on a team with two legends in Hayley and Hollie is really special to me.

Perotto pounces late

Thore Hammer Hansen secured a first Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup victory as he delivered Perotto (10/3) on the line to land the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile.

A late replacement for Bauyrzhan Murzabayev in the Europe team, Hammer Hansen appeared to have an uphill task early in the straight but, once in the clear, his mount picked up well to collar Joao Moreira's Fox Tal (20/1) in the final stride.

The 5/2 favourite Empirestateofmind kept on nicely under Frankie Dettori in third.

Hammer Hansen said: "I was on the way home from Thirsk yesterday and I got a call from my agent; to be honest I thought he was taking the mick out of me; I couldn't really believe it.

"I am flying out tonight for the Group 1 in Germany tomorrow and the only place I could have ridden [apart from Ascot] was Newmarket. There did not seem to be any rides there, so that played to my favour, and I could come here.

"It is amazing to be here and riding with the likes of Frankie, Olivier, Tom and all the rest of the jockeys in there. Then to get up and beat one of them on the line – I can't really describe it."

On whether a win on a day like the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will have a big effect on his season, he said: "I hope a big one. A huge thanks to Mr Varian [winning trainer] who was very supportive before the race and was very keen for me to try and do everything as smoothly as possible.

"As soon as I asked him for an effort, he quickened away nicely, and I thought it was only a matter of time before the leader comes back to me. I always felt like getting there at some stage and, when Moreira is in front of you, it's nice to get him just on the line.

Doyle at the double

Hollie Doyle put herself in pole position to win the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle after lifting Regal Empire (13/2) to a head success in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic.

It was a second success on the day for the Ladies team rider, who sits clear of her rivals on 43pts with one race remaining.

Always close to the pace, Regal Empire got the better of a three-way battle for the line, just ahead of runner-up Struth (11/1) under Matthew Chadwick and Intinso (14/1) for Luke Morris.

Doyle said: "Regal Empire is a really lovely horse. He has had plenty of races at a high level. He is quite raw, a big baby still, but he deserved that today because he's quite talented.

"He wasn't doing a tap really when I pushed the button and, when the second horse came to me, it actually helped me a little bit. He had a tendency to lug left quite badly, so I was trying to keep him as straight as I could. He has probably done it with a little bit up his sleeve.

"He hits the ground very hard. James [Tate, winning trainer] probably would have preferred it to have been a bit easier but he's gotten away with it though."

Dark Trooper secures success for Ladies

Dark Trooper (7/2F) and Saffie Osborne posted an impressive victory in the concluding Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint, securing the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for the Ladies team.

The Ed Walker-trained hung left in the closing stages but had already displayed a taking turn of foot to put himself nicely in the clear and he was well on top at the line.

Russet Gold (11/1) kept on well to finish second under Olivier Peslier, with Quinault (9/2), who was significantly weak in the market, taking third under Luke Morris.

Osborne said: "Dark Trooper is a really classy horse. Ed's team has done an amazing job because he has had two quick runs in very competitive races. He showed what a nice horse he is there.

"He tried his best not to run – he pulled off two shoes before the race and had to have them both put back on. He showed all his class there and he still got fairly lonely in front. You would like to think there's more to come.