Hong Kong clinches double in Dubai Golden Shaheen

Joao Moreira guides Sterling City to first place followed by Rich Tapestry in second place. Amith Passela reports from Dubai.

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DUBAI // Joao Moreira celebrated a Dubai World Cup sprint double for Hong Kong on Saturday night.

He made every yard of the running on the Ricky Yiu-trained Amber Sky to win the US$1 million (Dh3.67m) fifth race, the Al Quoz Sprint, in record time over 1,000 metres on the turf.

Returning to the saddle in the next race, he had to draw on all his energy to take the John Moore-trained Sterling City first over the line in the $2m Golden Shaheen over 1,200m on Tapeta.

Olivier Doleuze had Rich Tapestry well in front from almost the start of the race and he was still on the bridle as the field swept on to the home stretch, but he had no answer to Sterling City’s terrific finish.

Moore, the winning trainer, has big plans for the five-year-old chestnut son of Nadeem and he was all praise to Moreira for producing an excellent ride.

“I didn’t expect it to unfold like that,” Moore said. “He was closer than I thought he’d be but it is all about the rider. He is a magician.

“It is every trainer’s dream to win in Dubai. This has been a Team Moore effort as my daughter Caroline is the groom and my son George the work rider.

“The jockey said he didn’t like it early on the all-weather, but once he got him clear he flew home. It’s an international meeting time, but his next target could be the Singapore Krisflyer Sprint in May and then we can think about Ascot.”

“He’s a very good horse and he proved himself today,” Moreira, the Brazilian rider, said. “Rich Tapestry had experience of Tapeta and my horse didn’t but, once I got on his inside, I knew my horse was going to kick on.”

Doleuze conceded the runner-up Rich Tapestry was “run down” by a good horse. “My horse travelled very well throughout the race but he went from going very good to full power without making much difference. He gave me a short burst but then he stopped a little bit after that.”

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