Jay Peg wins Dubai Duty Free race

Dubai: Trainer Herman Brown was hoping luck would be on his side in the Dubai Duty Free (Group 1) race after his two runners Jay Peg and Linngari had drawn gate 14 and 16.

Jay Peg was a 50-1 rank outsider in a classy fields for the $5 million (Dh18.75 million) ride, the joint-richest turf race in the world.

But the four-year-old bay colt showed what a big heart can do and under jockey Anton Marcus unleashed a record-breaking performance to shock rivals as well as followers of the form.

Brown had said he needed good fortune in the running as Linngari had drawn barrier 16 for the second year in a row while Jay Peg was in 14.

However, the South African scored the biggest win of a career comprising more than 1,000 wins, and it was thanks to Jay Peg and Marcus.

In fact, Marcus had to combat a slipping saddle in the shadow of the post that threatened to unship him as he tried to pull up the victorious Jay Peg.

After doing all the initial running, Jay Peg seemed to be going a bit wide when on the home stretch.

Darjina, one of the 11 Group 1 winners in the field, appeared to have collared Jay Peg but the South African jockey came up with a second burst to edge the race.

Always improving

The winning time of 1:42:21 was a new record which bettered the old mark of 1:46.48.

"He has always been improving and I think he peaked at the right time," said Brown.

Jay Peg had three runs in the build-up to the big day and finished sixth in January, third in February and was second on Super Thursday to Lord Admiral.

"This win is without doubt the highlight of my career. It is all down to the teamwork both here and back in South Africa," said Brown.

Marcus praised his horse's fighting qualities.

"He likes a scrap and I wasn't worried when other horses went past him. I'm pleased that we had horses on either side of us. That really helped at the end."

"My saddle slipped one- and-half furlongs out and I was nearly unseated," said Marcus.

Darjina's jockey Christ-ophe Soumillon said his filly has the potential to improve greatly.

"She's given me a perfect ride but in the end she's really just 85 per cent today and we'll see her at 100 per cent soon."

While Jay Peg shocked the field, favourite Literato was just out of place in this nine-furlong race.

Godolphin jockey Frankie Dettori said: "He was very upset before the race. They went too slow for me and then sprinted home and the race was just too short for him."

Yutaka Take, on board Vodka, said: "I always asked her to speed up but we couldn't quite catch up. She is a really good filly anyhow."

Kevin Manning, who rode Finsceal Beo, said: "She missed the break at the gate but I had a good run round tracking Darjina. She ran well and there were no excuses."

The four-year-old bay colt showed what a big heart can do and under jockey Anton Marcus unleashed a record-breaking performance to shock rivals as well as followers of the form.