Disappointment for debutantes

Dubai: They hogged the headlines for most of the week. They entered the history books by becoming the first pair of female jockeys to race in the Dubai World Cup — the richest meeting in the world. But it all ended on a disappointing note for Chantal Sutherland and Hayley Turner.

Sutherland made history by being the first woman rider to start in the Dubai World Cup. But the Toronto-based jockey, who enjoys a superstar status both on and off the track, could not match that feat in the $10 million race as she finished 12th in the 13-horse field.

"It was a good trip considering everything that happened. The horse next to him was acting up in the gate, so he thought they were going to break. At home we break quicker, so he went to go forward and then he sat down," said Chantal as the Bob Baffert-trained Game On Dude failed to reproduce the form that carried her to a second-place finish in last year's Breeder's Cup Classic.

"He just got a little frazzled after not breaking so great. Then he relaxed. He was good and just wanted to get into his rhythm. So I did what I always do, and let him try to get there and I waited. The track is very tiring," said Chantal, who was watched by Baffert.

The trainer had a heart problem last Monday and underwent a medical procedure at a Dubai hospital, but the two-time Dubai World Cup winner was there and was greeted by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

If Chantal is the queen of flat racing on the American continent, her equivalent in Britain is Hayley Turner.

She became the first female jockey to race in the 17-year history of the Dubai World Cup meeting.

However, even Turner's result, in the Al Quoz Sprint (Group 1) in turf, ended on a disappointing note. The 29-year-old, who is the best-known female jockey in Britain, finished 10th on Margot Did in the 1000-metre sprint.

"She jumped and raced for the first stride and was the last horse off the bridle. It might be better if we could try to get her to drop her head. She needs to finish off her races," said Turner, who was riding the horse for trainer Michael Bell.

It was a disappointing Dubai World Cup night debut for Turner who had won the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August on Margot Did, her second Group One ­triumph in a memorable season last year. She had won the July Cup (Group 1) on Dream Ahead.

However, despite their results, it has been a huge step forward for women jockeys and with the UAE having already focused on enhancing the status of women jockeys through the HH Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak IFAHR Cup races for ladies being held all over the globe through the Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, the day may not be far when we see some women jockeys from the region in the Dubai World Cup.