Racing: Desormeaux so desolate

KENT DESORMEAUX, rider of runner-up Kotashaan, was fined 50,000 yen ( pounds 300) in Tokyo yesterday after mistaking the finish line as locally- trained Legacy World kept the Japan Cup at home yet again.

Dazzled by the setting sun, the American jockey briefly stood up in the saddle about 100 metres from the winning post. Desormeaux was quickly back into action on the 4-1 favourite but too late. He failed by just over a length.

Visibly shaken, Desormeaux later told reporters he might have won but for the error. 'I could have won . . . but I don't know . . . I'm just in a panic,' he said. 'I feel very ashamed. I made a big mistake . . . I feel I cannot apologise enough.'

But Hiroshi Kawachi, on Legacy World, felt he would have won anyway. Kawachi's 11-1 chance produced a fine burst of speed in the final 200 metres to take the pounds 914,180 first prize. Japan's Winning Ticket finished third, with German- trained Platini in fourth.

French filly Urban Sea was eighth while British hope White Muzzle faded badly in the home stretch to finish 13th.