4.30pm Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup

Classic Hamaki seals Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup honours for Great Britain & Ireland

Great Britain & Ireland secured the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup with a race to spare after Hamaki (3/1JF) and Jamie Spencer held on bravely to land the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic.

Tackling 12 furlongs for the first time, Hamaki saw his race out strongly to complete a memorable three-timer on the card for trainer William Haggas. Supagirl (8/1) was second under Christophe Lemaire, with Sheer Rocks (8/1) close third under Frankie Dettori.

The result means that Great Britain & Ireland (113pts) hold an unassailable 49pt lead in the overall standings, with the Ladies and Rest of the World teams tied in second on 64pts.

The race for the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle goes down to the final contest, with Jamie Spencer (37pts) holding a narrow lead over Neil Callan (35pts).

Spencer said: “Hamaki was a very easy ride. I committed soon enough because I could hear the horse coming down my outer early in the straight. I was in front just after the two pole and, for a horse going a mile and a half for the first time, that was plenty soon. I wasn't really travelling just before the turn in, but he came back on it right around the corner.

“He was very tough and very genuine. He is by Churchill and he's having a fantastic year – they're winning from five furlongs to a mile and a half, so he's by the right sire."

On leading the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle standings going into the final race, he added:

“I’ve had a few good rides today and hit the board with them. It's grand, everyone's enjoying themselves. It's been a good day and you come here to win, don't you. We've got a good team and a good bunch of rides, so everyone's happy.”

Grand National-winning jockey Daryl Jacob, representing winning owners Simon Munir & Isaac Souede:

“Hamaki was very good. I thought he battled really, really hard and put his head down. The ground would have been fast enough there for him today, so it was a good performance and he's got the trip nicely. Please God, he is really starting to mature now and show how good he is. He is a really good-looking horse and we're delighted with him."

Christophe Lemaire, second on Supagirl, said:

“She is a big-striding horse. This is her first time over the trip, so I had to be patient early on. She travelled very well. She needed time to find a gap and when she had it, she picked up well. I thought we could do it, but the winner kept going. She should win this kind of race soon."

Frankie Dettori, who rode the third Sheer Rocks, said:

“I had a good position. I did not get the split when I wanted it but he ran a super race."

Hamaki wins the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic (credit: Megan Ridgwell)

4.30pm Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic

1 Hamaki (GB & IRE) William Haggas 3-9-10 Jamie Spencer 3/1JF

2 Supagirl (ROW) Jessica Harrington IRE 3-10-2 Christophe Lemaire 8/1

3 Sheer Rocks (EUR) Eve Johnston Houghton 3-9-11 Frankie Dettori 8/1

4 Pub Crawl (ROW) Michael Bell 3-9-02 Jason Collett

5 Dancing Tango (GB & IRE) Roger & Harry Charlton 3-9-02 Danny Tudhope

Team standings after race 7:

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND 113

LADIES 64

REST OF THE WORLD 64

EUROPE 51

Individual standings after race 7:

Jamie Spencer GBI 37

Neil Callan GBI 35

Kieran Shoemark GBI 29

Rene Piechulek EUR 23

Joanna Mason LADIES 22

Frankie Dettori EUR 20

Christophe Lemaire ROW 20

Jason Collett ROW 19

Hayley Turner LADIES 18

Emma-Jayne Wilson LADIES 15

Takeshi Yokoyama ROW 13

Kerrin McEvoy ROW 12

Daniel Tudhope GBI 12

Nicola Currie LADIES

9 Antonio Fresu EUR 4

José-Luis Martinez EUR 4