US jockey Gary Stevens back at Dubai World Cup

Dubai: With seven Dubai World Cup night winners from only 24 rides, Gary Stevens boasts a Dubai strike rate anybody would be proud of and, having ended his seven year retirement earlier this year, the now 50-year-old is in action for the first time at Meydan this Saturday.

Dubai World Cup winning trainer Dale Romans, who saddled Roses In May to win the world’s richest horse race in 2005, has snapped up the jockey’s services to ride both his Sheema Classic hope Little Mike, and more importantly, Dullahan in the World Cup itself.

“They are two exciting rides and it will be great to ride at Meydan and get back to Dubai,” Stevens told XPRESS in an interview ahead of the biggest night of racing.

“I first rode at Nad Al Sheba in 1993 and have followed the amazing progress. Little Mike is tactically versatile which is a big advantage whereas Dullahan will relish every yard of that home stretch. I cannot wait and it is an honour to be asked to ride these great horses.”

The jockey has won both races before; the Sheema Classic on Polish Summer in 2004 and has a long association with the Dubai World Cup. Runner-up in the inaugural running on Soul Of The Matter in 1996 (he will be the only jockey who rode in that original race and who is in action in this year’s renewal), he steered Silver Charm to victory in the race two years later.

Bad weather in 1997 prevented him riding the winner, Singspiel, for His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who was forced to postpone the race on the Saturday after heavy rainfall left the Nad Al Sheba track unfit to race. The race was run five days later with Stevens, who had commitments at home in America, replaced on Singspiel by compatriot Jerry Bailey.

Obviously his 1998 big race victory is one he remembers well, with delight but also with a trace of a phlegmatic air. He explains: “Being American, to win the world’s richest horse race on the first Kentucky Derby winner to contest the race, was a great moment. But I also remember celebrating as we crossed the line just in front of Swain. I thought we had won but the result took a long while to be confirmed and I was mortified I had celebrated but not won. Never again in a close finish did I do that again!”

In 2005, after a longstanding knee problem, Stevens hung up his boots and started work as a television pundit, as well as proving a hit on the big screen with a starring role in the film adaptation of Seabiscuit.

However, late last year, he decided to get back in training and after two months hard work returned to the saddle, riding work in the mornings. Proving the old adage ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ he slotted back in seamlessly and it was only a matter of time before owners and trainers were advocating his return to race riding action.

So, in January this year, he did and quickly rode two Stakes winners, explaining: “It was like I was never away and I have the luxury of being able to be fussy as to what and where I ride. I did not return to ride rubbish but the response has been brilliant and I am really enjoying it.

“To be back on the worldwide stage on Saturday is the pinnacle so far of the return to the saddle – and I can hardly wait.”

Number

4888

Number of wins Stevens has in his career so far