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TRAINER David Simcock had another day to savour as stable stalwart Sheikhzayedroad was victorious on British Champions Day at Ascot.
The evergreen seven-year-old gave his customary game display to land the Group 2 QIPCo British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles.
Jockey Martin Harley got a fine tune out of the son of Dubawi, who held off the challenge of Quest For More to score by half a length.
Owner Mohammed Jaber has now enjoyed no less than 11 wins with Sheikhzayedroad – six of them in Stakes company. This latest triumph followed up his Group 2 win in the Doncaster Cup month.
David said: "It was great to watch.I'm very proud of the horse. He's been with us a long time – he's seven years old now – and he's a pleasure to train. He's genuine and he enjoys racing.
"This is the first year we've gone staying with him. He was a very good mile and a half horse – he was a Grade One winner over that trip – and he won a Grade Two over a mile and a quarter.
"As he's got a little bit older, he's got a little bit slower but he's got a massive appetite and that little bit of speed he's got over this trip helps."
On the same card, Lightning Spear ran a blinder to finish third, beaten a length and a half to champion three-year-old filly Minding.
The Trillium Place inmate ran on in fine style to leave David hailing a career-best performance from the five-year-old.
He said: "He made up a lot of ground on them, and they weren't stopping – he'll have his day."