Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: Team Europe profiles

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.

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.

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.