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Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: Team Europe profiles

| 08.08.2015
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

A look at the profiles of the jockeys representing team Europe who are the 11/8 favourites with Coral to emerge victorious in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.

Olivier Peslier (France, Captain)
Jockey Olivier Peslier celebrates after

Background: Brought up in Mayenne region of France, he started pony riding at a young age. Served his apprenticeship with Patrick Biancone and Nicolas Clement. Rode his first winner on Cavalo d’Oro at Rouen on March 12, 1989. Sprang to prominence in 1996 when winning his first Cravache d’Or (France’s jockeys’ title) with 163 winners, ending the four-year reign of Thierry Jarnet. He took the title thrice more, in 1997 with 154 successes, 1999 (147 wins) and 2000 (162 wins). He soon became an international jockey of renown and has ridden winners at the highest level all around the world. Most famous for his association with Goldikova, the star French filly, on whom he won 17 times, including 14 at Group One level.

British Classic wins (2): QIPCO 2000 Guineas (2007 Cockney Rebel), Investec Derby (1998 High-Rise) French Classic wins (9): Prix du Jockey Club – the French Derby (1997 Peintre Celebre, 2013 Intello), Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (2004 Torrestrella, 2011 Golden Lilac), Poule d’Essai des Poulains (2008 Falco, 2015 Make Believe), Prix Royal-Oak (1999 & 2000 Amilynx, 2006 Montare).

Irish Classic wins (5): Irish 2,000 Guineas (1998 Desert Prince, 1999 Saffron Walden, 2007 Cockney Rebel), Irish Derby (1995 Winged Love), Irish St Leger (2010 Sans Frontieres).

Major wins include: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (1998 Sagamix, 1997 Peintre Celebre, 1996 Helissio, 2012 Solemia), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2010 Harbinger), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1997 Air Express, 1998 Desert Prince, 2014 Charm Spirit), Dewhurst Stakes (1997 Xaar), Breeders’ Cup Mile (2008, 2009 and 2010 Goldikova), Japan Cup (2001 Jungle Pocket, 2004 Zenno Rob Roy). Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2001 Banks Hill), Prix Ganay (1997 Helissio 1997, 2000 Indian Danehill, 2003 Fair Mix, 2012 Cirrus des Aigles, 2013 Pastorius), Prix Rothschild (1996 Shaanxi, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011 Goldikova, 2015 Amazing Maria).

Royal Ascot Wins (14): including Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2006 Ouija Board, 2009 Vision D’Etat), Queen Anne Stakes (2010 Goldikova), Gold Cup (2005 Westerner), King’s Stand Stakes (1997 Don’t Worry Me, 2008 Equiano), Coronation Stakes (1996 Shake The Yoke, 2001 Banks Hill).

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup – he participated in 2010, 2011 and 2014, when he took the Silver Saddle Award for leading rider.

Previous Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup wins (2): 2010 Gramercy; 2014 Our Gabrial.

Best bet for 2015 edition: Dungannon each-way in Shergar Cup Dash.

Adrie de Vries (The Netherlands)
Royal Ascot day 3

Background: international rider who has enjoyed success all over the world in both Thoroughbred and Arabian racing. Born in The Netherlands, he rode his first winner on Go at Duindigt racecourse, near Rotterdam, in 1985. He enjoyed a successful partnership with top Dutch trainer Jan Pubben during his time in Holland, partnering over 600 winners and dominating the jockeys’ championship. He won the Dutch Derby five times between 1991 and 1999. He moved to Germany after the turn of the century and rode his first Group One winner aboard the Hans-Albert Blume-trained Gyreka in the 2005 Italian Oaks. He was retained by Germany’s leading owner Gestut Schlenderhan between 2009 and 2014. He also divides his time between Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE during the winter months where he has done particularly well in Arabian racing.

Accolades: champion jockey in Holland 12 times. Champion jockey in Germany in 2014. Rode the Jens Hirschberger-trained Energizer to victory in the Group Three Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot 2012, the first German-trained winner at the meeting.

Major Wins Include: Grosser Preis Von Baden (2009 Getaway), Preis Von Europa (2013 Meandre, 2014 Empoli), Oaks d’Italia (2005 Gyreka), Rheinland-Pokal (2010 Campanologist).

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup – participated for the first time in 2014.

Best bet for 2015 edition: Midlander in the Shergar Cup Sprint.

Vincent Cheminaud (France)
Chantilly

Background: son of successful jump jockey Christophe Cheminaud. He was 13 when joining the racing school at Mont de Marsan and then completed his apprenticeship with jump trainer Emmanuel Clayeux. Started working for leading handler Arnaud Chaille-Chaille at 16 and had his first ride in March, 2010. Went freelance in 2013 after losing claim and enjoyed first Grade One win on Guillaume Macaire-trained Storm Of Saintly in May of that year. Teamed up with same horse to win the 2014 Grand Steeple Chase de Paris. Switched his main attention to the Flat in 2015 with support from France’s champion Flat trainer Andre Fabre, who first put him up in April – has ridden 32 winners on the Flat this year (up to August 3rd).

Accolades: French champion jump jockey in 2014. Major Flat wins: Prix du Jockey Club – the French Derby (2015 New Bay).

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut.

Bet bet for 2015 edition: Wordiness each-way in the Shergar Cup Stayers.

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Author

David Metcalf

A lifelong Manchester United supporter, David has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a huge horse racing, football and greyhound fan and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR front man for a betting firm. David has also written for most of the top Premier League football fan websites, and produced a Cheltenham Festival guide with former eight-times champion national hunt jockey Peter Scudamore, MBE, after helping him to set up a syndicate for his trainer son Michael.