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Desert Encounter wins Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup

Desert Encounter (right) leads the field home to win the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes Race
Image: Desert Encounter (right) leads the field home to win the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Stakes Race

Trainer David Simcock landed the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup for the third successive year as Desert Encounter proved too smart in the Newbury Group Three.

Victories from The Corsican and Algometer in the race, formerly known as the Arc Trial, were followed up in impressive style by the five-year-old Desert Encounter.

He finished a fine third behind Ulysses and Barney Roy in the Eclipse back in July, but he ran below that level when only sixth in the King George behind Enable.

However, he looked a class apart dropped in grade, settled at the rear of the field by Sean Levey, he was cantering two furlongs out as Fabricate and Second Step did battle.

Desert Encounter (13-2) claimed the advantage when quickening up in fine style and held on by a neck from Second Step with Secret Number third.

Levey told ITV Racing: "He deserved that. Since he won a Listed race at Ascot he's run in all the big races and run well in them.

"Mr Simcock said after the King George this was the race for him and we were confident he could come and do the job.

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"It's nice to keep the ride. Mr Simcock has given me plenty of rides and it's nice of the owners to leave me on him after he didn't run as well as expected in the King George."

Simcock said: "Sean gave him a lovely ride. Now he knows the horse, it makes the difference. I am chuffed to bits as it has been a bit of a barren spell the last three weeks. It has been a good race to us and it is the third year running we have won it.

"He has been progressive this year and he has been progressive all his life. He rode him exactly how I liked and he probably just pulled himself up a bit at the end.

"We will speak to the owner now. He has got options in Canada and he is in at Ascot. We will see how he is, but he certainly will have one more run.

"All his life he has been a consistent horse. He was a late developer and only had two runs at two and he was lightly raced at three. He improved last year and has stepped up to the plate really well this year."

Roger Charlton, trainer of Second Step, said: "I am really happy and I thought he ran a super race. On the book the winner had got the beating of us.

"That will be it for the year and he will go out in the field and come back next year."

Simcock said: "Sean gave him a lovely ride. Now he knows the horse, it makes the difference. I am chuffed to bits as it has been a bit of a barren spell the last three weeks. It has been a good race to us and it is the third year running we have won it. "He has been progressive this year and he has been progressive all his life. He rode him exactly how I liked and he probably just pulled himself up a bit at the end. "We will speak to the owner now. He has got options in Canada and he is in at Ascot. We will see how he is, but he certainly will have one more run. "All his life he has been a consistent horse. He was a late developer and only had two runs at two and he was lightly raced at three. He improved last year and has stepped up to the plate really well this year." Roger Charlton, trainer of Second Step, said: "I am really happy and I thought he ran a super race. On the book the winner had got the beating of us. "That will be it for the year and he will go out in the field and come back next year."

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