Emotional Atzeni on the scoreboard after losing horse 'very close to our hearts'

Andrea Atzeni was full of emotion after winning the 1m4f handicap aboard Mambo Nights, who carried the same colours as his regular partner and Group 1 scorer Defoe, who suffered a fatal injury on the gallops on Wednesday morning.

Atzeni partnered Defoe in 19 of his 22 starts and was the man on board for his crowning moment in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom last year. He even revealed he was hoping to give the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned grey a home once he retired.

"It's very sad news," said the rider. "I remember it like it was yesterday, flying to Ffos Las and riding him first time out when he won his maiden.