Meydan Masters to rewrite book on jockey challenges

PatCummings — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:40:38 +0000

The Dubai Racing Club has announced its March 5 card will include the introduction of the Meydan Masters jockey challenge, a unique variation on global jockey challenges that have taken place around the world. In Dubai, an invitation to the Masters is determined upon winning: take down a major international race, and you qualify for the new program. Whereas the lines are often blurred between home country and country of birth (does Olivier Peslier represent France or Hong Kong, where he qualified by winning the Hong Kong Cup), performance in top races is what will matter most.

11 of the 12 riders have been chosen based upon their wins in top-class races worldwide, with the Dubai Racing Club reserving the right to invite the last rider of their own choosing. Based upon the list below – it seems almost certain that will belong to Frankie Dettori. The races used to select riders is likely to change each year considering that the same rider can conceivably win multiple races.

2010 Meydan Masters Rostrum
Jockey	Race Won
Ahmed Ajtebi	Dubai Sheema Classic
Calvin Borel	Kentucky Derby
Corey Brown	Melbourne Cup
Ted Durcan	English St. Leger
Aaron Gryder	Dubai World Cup
Christophe Lemaire	Prix du Jockey Club
Ryan Moore	King George VI & QE Stks
John Murtagh	Irish Derby
Olivier Peslier	Hong Kong Cup
Mike Smith	Breeders’ Cup Classic
Norohiro Yokoyama	Tokyo Yushun

The contest will be conducted over four races on the card, including the Zabeel Mile (G2).

Dubai Race Night » Norohiro Yokoyama

Meydan Masters to rewrite book on jockey challenges