Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: Rest Of The World team profiles

Major European wins: Falmouth Stakes (2006 Rajeema), Grosser Preis von Baden (2004 &2005 Warrsan), Prix Jacques Les Marois (2005 Dubawi), Racing Post Trophy (2007 Ibn Khaldun), St James’ Palace Stakes (2005 Shamardal), St Leger (2004 Rule Of Law), Yorkshire Oaks (2005 Punctilious). He has ridden in jockeys’contests before, notably in Hong Kong where he won the 2013 event, and has partnered three winners at Royal Ascot.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut.

Best bet for 2015 edition: Majeed in Shergar Cup Challenge.

Background: He has been the subject of national adulation in Japan, where he featured as one of the country’s top sporting figures. Yutaka Take is the son of legendary jockey turned trainer Kunihiko Take, who was known as the ‘Magician of the Turf’. He rode his first winner on Dyna Bishop at Hanshin on March 7th, 1987, and won 69 races when champion apprentice that year, a record for a first-season rider.

Achievements: Take has been champion Japanese jockey 18 times (1989-1990, 1992-2000 and 2002-2008 inclusive) and his 2005 title saw him win a record 212 races. In 1991 he became the first Japanese rider to win a Pattern race overseas when taking the Grade Three Seneca Stakes on El Senor at Saratoga, USA, and was also the first Japanese jockey to win a Pattern race in Europe when landing the 1994 Prix du Moulin on Ski Paradise at Longchamp, France, as well as the first to score in Britain, when winning the 2000 Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Agnes World. Take is an internationally renowned jockey who has travelled extensively and was based in California in 2000 as well as riding in France during the 2001 and 2002 seasons, before returning to his domestic base. He partnered the great Deep Impact in all of his races, including the 2005 Japanese Triple Crown. On July 22nd, 2007, Take established a record in Japan when recording his 2,944th success at a Japan Racing Association (JRA) track, passing the record of 2,943 achieved by Yukio Okabe. On November 3rd, 2007, Take reached another milestone in his career when becoming the first JRA rider to record 3,000 victories. That win, on two-year-old Sky Beauty at Kyoto racecourse, was his 14,288th JRA ride and came 20 years and eight months after the jockey made his career debut. The 5f 7in jockey’s numerous notable victories include three in the Japan Cup thanks to Special Week (1999), Deep Impact (2006) and Rose Kingdom (2010) and he has won the Japanese Derby a record five times. He gained his 3,500th JRA victory at Kyoto in January, 2013 and achieved his 100th Group One victory on Tosen Ra in the Mile Championship at Kyoto in November, 2013.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup – he has participated at the 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012 Dubai Duty FreeShergar Cups. He won his first race at Ascot in the 2007 competition, steering the Tony Martin-trained Leg Spinner to success in the Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap.

Previous Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup wins (4): 2007 Leg Spinner; 2008 Strike Up The Band; 2008 Nan’s Joy; 2011 Ile De Re.

Best bet for 2015 edition: Roudee each-way in Shergar Cup Sprint.

Background: grew up in Kilmore, Victoria and started competing in gymkhanas at the age of five. Apprenticed to stepfather Lee Hope and began riding in 2003, with first major victory coming on Demerger in the 2005 Adelaide Cup. Left Victoria for Sydney at 19 to become stable jockey for Gai Waterhouse. Won 2008 Melbourne Cup on the Bart Cummings trained Viewed. Disqualified from riding for 15 months in December, 2010 for charges related to betting, although ban was subsequently reduced to 12 months. Has yet to ride in the UK.

Accolades: awarded the 2005 Scobie Breasley Medal, which recognises excellence in race riding at Melbourne tracks; won 2007/08 Sydney jockeys’ premiership (79 winners). Major wins include: BTC Cup (2015 Hot Snitzel), Coolmore Classic (2013 Appearance), Coolmore Flight Stakes (2014 First Seal), Doomben Cup (2014 Streama, 2015 Pornichet), Melbourne Cup (2008 Viewed), Vinery Stud Stakes (2015 Fenway).

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut.

Best bet for 2015 edition: Double Up in Shergar Cup Dash.