Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Captain Dettori Steps Up For Shergar Cup

In his final year of riding, Frankie Dettori will captain the European team at Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday, Aug. 12.

Twelve jockeys from eight countries will take part in the unique team contest, with Dettori set to be joined by Olivier Peslier and Kazakh-born Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, the multiple champion jockey in Germany who is now stable jockey to Andre Fabre.

“The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is always a fun event and I was keen to be involved in my final year riding,” said Dettori.

“Ascot does an excellent job attracting some of the biggest names from around the world, while the prize-money and incentives for owners, trainers and stable staff are fantastic. I like the look of our team. Myself and Olivier were on the winning side in 2014 and hopefully we can repeat the feat this year.”

The GB & Ireland team consists of captain Luke Morris, Tom Marquand and Declan McDonogh, while Hayley Turner, the most successful rider at the Shergar Cup, will be joined by Hollie Doyle and Saffie Osborne on the Ladies team.

Hong Kong star Vincent Ho returns as captain of Rest of the World, and is joined by Brazil's Joao Moreira and Kazuo Yokoyama, a multiple Group 1 winner in Japan.

With owners benefiting from free entry for their horses, each race at the Shergar Cup is worth £80,000, with prize-money down to 10th place. There is a further £25,000 available in bonuses split between the day's three leading trainers and their staff.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot, said, “With the continued support of Dubai Duty Free, we are delighted to unveil one of our strongest and most varied lineups of jockeys for this year's Shergar Cup.

“Frankie is captaining Europe as part of his farewell tour, while it's great to welcome back Vincent Ho, who has made such an impression when riding in the UK previously.

“We are also excited to have Joao Moreira pencilled in for his third Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup appearance, in what could be his final year in the saddle. There will be debuts for Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, Luke Morris, Tom Marquand, Saffie Osborne and Kazuo Yokoyama.

“Of course, no Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup would be complete without Hayley Turner, who has such a tremendous record at Ascot and is synonymous with this event.”

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of Dubai Duty Free, added, “Once again the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will deliver a line-up of international stars who will have the opportunity to shine on one of horseracing's greatest stages.

“I am delighted that Frankie has chosen the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup as one of his final showcase events in the UK and we can expect the competition to be as fierce as ever.”

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Savethelastdance Heads O’Brien-Trained Foursome In Irish Oaks

Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will spearhead a four-pronged attack from Aidan O'Brien on Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh. The master of Ballydoyle has already won the fillies' Classic on six occasions, a joint-record alongside Sir Michael Stoute.

O'Brien looks to have every chance of going out on his own this weekend, with 22-length Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Savethelastdance the likely favourite on her first start since finishing runner-up behind Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the Oaks at Epsom last month.

Her biggest threat could prove to be her stablemate Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who completed a third straight win in the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Royal Ascot last month.

Lingfield Oaks Trial runner-up Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and listed winner Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) complete O'Brien's quartet.

British hopes are carried by Ralph Beckett's Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), who was beaten a head by Warm Heart on her penultimate start at Newbury, but has almost four lengths to find with the same rival from their clash in the Ribblesdale just over four weeks ago.

Splitting the pair in second at the Royal meeting was the Joseph O'Brien-trained Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) who adds further strength in depth to the Irish Oaks field.

Azazat (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), second in the G3 Munster Oaks last time out for Dermot Weld, and Jim Bolger's Irish 1,000 Guineas third Comhra (Ire) (Vocalised) are the other hopefuls.

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Thursday’s Observations: Peaceful’s Sister Debuts at Leopardstown

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a full-sister to Classic winner Peaceful.

18.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 8fT
ANDROMEDA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of two Ballydoyle juveniles engaged, with Seamie Heffernan taking the ride on the debutante full-sister to his 2020 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas-winning mount Peaceful (Ire). Ryan Moore has opted for Opera Singer (Justify), the half-sister to War Front's top-level winners Hit It A Bomb and Brave Anna who was eighth behind stablemate and TDN Rising Star Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at The Curragh last month.

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O’Brien Planning Strong King George Assault Led By Auguste Rodin

As many as six horses from Aidan O'Brien's yard, including dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), will line up in the G1 King George and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot on July 29.

Riding a two-race winning streak after taking Epsom's Blue Riband last month and the Irish equivalent for the Coolmore partners, Auguste Rodin beat stable-mate Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the latter. He will aim to emulate former Coolmore kingpin Galileo (Ire) with a victory in the King George after winning two Derbys.

“He's on that programme, and so far, everything is going well [for the King George],” O'Brien told the Nick Luck Daily podcast on Wednesday,

The aforementioned Adelaide River enters off another strong second-place effort in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on June 14. He is joined by Group 1-winning older horses Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the G2 Huxley S. hero and Group 1-placed Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is another possible runner.

“Luxembourg is a very strong possible at the moment,” O'Brien continued. “Point Lonsdale is a strong possible at the moment. Broome, like I said, he could go [for the King George], and probably will go to Goodwood for the two miles [G1 Goodwood Cup S. on Aug. 1]. Bolshoi Ballet is a very strong possible. And then, obviously, Auguste Rodin and Adelaide River, we'd have to see how he [Adelaide River] came out of the race [G1 Grand Prix de Paris] and give him a little bit of time to see before we make any decision about him.”

O'Brien also provided an update on likely G1 Sussex S. runner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who will potentially represent the Coolmore partners in the G1 Cox Plate in the autumn.

He said, “Everything went well since [the Eclipse], and is at the moment. He's on that plan and that programme [for the Sussex] at the moment.”

The Coolmore partners also have five of the nine fillies currently entered in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. G3 Cheshire Oaks heroine and G1 Oaks runner-up Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G2 Ribblesdale S. victress Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) were pleasing the Rosegreen handler particularly. He also has listed winner Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and winner Lambada (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) signed on.

“I suppose, we have three very strong fillies in there,” O'Brien added. “Obviously, the filly [Savethelastdance] from Chester we think is very well. This has always been her programme. And then the filly [Warm Heart] who won at Ascot. We weren't sure that stepping up the a mile and a half would suit her, but it obviously improved her.

“Another filly called Be Happy which we have always thought a lot of, [is in the race]. She was withdrawn at the last minute from the Oaks and we had her ready to run again, and she got an infection in her foot. The last three weeks everything has been very good with her. The plan is that is where she is going now at the moment, as well.”

Pair Of Contenders Pleasing Connections In Latest King George Works

Saeed Suhail's 2022 Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) also remains in contention for the Ascot showpiece. Off for over a year with an ankle injury, the 4-year-old ran second in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown earlier this season. Another minor setback kept the Sir Michael Stoute trainee out of Royal Ascot and a run in the G1 Prince of Wales's S., but he pleased his connections in a work at Newmarket on Wednesday morning.

Suhail's racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said, “He worked this morning and Ryan [Moore] rode him. Michael was very pleased with him and I think there is a good chance he will go to Ascot.

“He worked nicely. It was a pleasing gallop. I can't say he is certain for the race, but everyone was very happy with him. There's a good chance he will go to Ascot.”

Already a winner of the King George in 2022, two-time Group 1 scorer Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) also remains among the entries. He decisively won the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June for co-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick in the colours of the La Pyle Partnership.

“He just did want we wanted and we were delighted with him,” said Muir of the 6-year-old's Newbury gallop.

“It was not a serious, hard gallop, it was just a day out really. He goes to Newbury, has a warm-up little canter and then covers the distance, that's all. He did great. We're keeping our fingers crossed and we're in good shape. Fingers crossed we'll be there at Ascot.”

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