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| Sumita Pawar |
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Team captains Joao Moreira and Luke Morris were among the group of jockeys who spoke to the media at Ascot today, discussing the upcoming Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday, August 12th.
As he prepares for his third Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup appearance, Rest of the World captain Moreira made an exciting announcement. Despite his previous plans to retire from horse racing later this year, he has decided to put that on hold for now.
Moreira, known as the 'Magic Man', has gained quite a reputation for his remarkable performances in the Far East. His incredible nine-year tenure in Hong Kong, which ended last year, has solidified his status as one of the best jockeys in the world.
Moreira said, “It has been five years since I was last at Ascot – it feels like time has flown! It is nice to be back, it is such a beautiful place, the racecourse itself is amazing, and not least the riders I will be riding with – they are the best of the best.
“Being invited to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup makes you feel proud of yourself. You are riding against some of the best jockeys in the world. For me, Frankie [Dettori] is the best jockey in the history of the sport. I have been watching him since I was an apprentice and, when I have the opportunity to ride with him, I am very proud.
“I think my greatest achievement is riding eight winners on a card in three different countries. That is the most difficult achievement of my career I would say. I would be very proud of winning just once on Saturday! It is so difficult to win and you need so much luck.”
On his decision to relinquish his Hong Kong license last year, he said, “I was struggling with hip injuries at the end of last year, which I am not over yet but there is no doubt that I am a lot better than I was. I was thinking about quitting riding but, once I started getting better, I felt I could push on for a bit longer.
“I have been riding in Brazil and travelling a bit. I went to Japan earlier this year for a couple of weeks, then Saudi Arabia and also Dubai, before a short stint in Australia. I went back to Brazil, where I had some really nice rides in big races that I have never won before. Career-wise, I have been doing all right, and being able to be around my family and relatives has made my life easier.
Regarding adapting to the new whip rules here, Moreira said, “It is not going to be a problem. In Australia, you are only allowed to use the whip five times before the last 200 metres. The world is changing. Even in Brazil, which is a third-world country, there have been new rules implemented whereby a jockey is not allowed to use the whip more than eight times and the penalties can be severe if you go over. It is a change which I see as a good thing for the sport and I don’t see it being any problem for myself.”
Rising Star Luke Morris Gears up for Dubai's Shergar Cup Debut
Luke Morris, the captain of GB & Ireland, is preparing to participate in the prestigious Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for the very first time. This seasoned 3 YO jockey achieved the pinnacle of his career by riding Alpinista to victory in the esteemed Gr.1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's most renowned race, back in October.
Morris said, “The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is something that I have grown up watching. When I was asked to participate, I was hugely grateful. It looks a great, fun day with a real buzz about the place, and fingers crossed I get a good draw of rides.
“I would not say my life has changed since winning the Arc as I have always been busy riding plenty of winners, but I was very lucky to be associated with Alpinista. You are on the lookout for the next Alpinista now.
“Riding winners at the highest level is always the aim. I am fiercely competitive and enjoy winning. I want to ride as many winners as I can each year, in the hope that it unlocks the door to ride nice horses.”
Saffie Osborne, along with Hayley Turner and Hollie Doyle, is a debutant in the Ladies team, making her first appearance in the competition. Riding Random Harvest, Osborne triumphed in the Gr.3 Longines Valiant Stakes at Ascot just last month.
In addition, Japanese jockey Kazuo Yokoyama graced the event with his presence. Yokoyama, who has achieved victory at the highest level in his homeland, continues the legacy of his father Norihiro and his younger brother Takeshi, both of whom participated in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup in 2001 and 2022 respectively.