Chinese and international jockeys and trainers set for Saturday’s Chengdu Dubai International Cup

The final preparations are in place for the meeting which will feature five-races all to be run on turf, the feature race being the fifth running of the Chengdu Dubai International Cup presented by prestige Swiss watchmaker Longines, alongside the Wenjiang Meydan Classic.

The stunning Jinma Lake Racecourse in Wenjiang District of Chengdu is once again the venue for this now-annual and eagerly-anticipated event which will feature horses, jockeys and trainers from the Dubai Racing Club as well as local jockeys from China.

Last year a new addition was made to the programme with two of the five races on the card run as a jockeys’ challenge between Chinese jockeys and their international counterparts. This new feature was a big hit – particularly with the local racegoers with over 6000 spectators attending the raceday – and their interest was heightened by the performance of the local jockeys who came close to beating their more experienced international counterparts.

Saturday’s racing will once again feature the jockey’s challenge across two races – The Wenjiang Sprint and The Guangsha Handicap – in which the Chinese jockeys will be hoping to come out victorious and gain some revenge from last time out.

Last year the Chengdu Dubai International Cup presented by Longines was won by the Ali Rashid Al Rayhi-trained Skygazer ridden by Royston Ffrench and Al Rayhi will be in the hunt to repeat the feat again this year. He will however face stiff competition with the likes of Doug Watson, Erwan Charpy, Satish Seemar, and Musabbeh Al Mheiri among the trainers whose horses are set to feature, with Al Mheiri currently leading the tally as the most successful trainer with six wins.

Last year also saw Wang Wenxun became the first Chinese jockey to win a race in the event after victory in the Wenjiang Spirit Handicap, aboard the Maria Ritchie-trained Damar. He will be in action once again on Saturday along with fellow Chinese jockeys Ma Liankai Li Jiafei, He Xianfei, and Chen Yi.

They will be up against such luminaries as Fernando Jara, Richard Mullen, Pat Dobbs, Samuel Hitchcott, Antonio Fresu, Tadhg O’Shea, Adam Mclean, and Jesus Rosales who will represent the international riders and provide some stiff competition for the home riders.