Great Britain and Ireland take DDF Shergar Cup

A sell-out crowd of almost 32,000 flocked to Ascot Racecourse on Saturday to cheer on a host of the world's top male and female jockeys who queue up for the ticket to ride in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup challenge, British Racing's only team competition.

Four teams representing Europe, Rest of the World, Great Britain and Ireland and The Girls went head-to-head in a competition played out over six competitive handicaps for the chance to lift the coveted Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup trophy, the Silver Saddle awarded to the individual amassing the most points and the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day.

Great Britain and Ireland were crowned champions for the first time in competition's present format, Fran Berry's winning ride in the last race, the six-furlong Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint, aboard Golden Apollo, clinching the award for the home team with 86 points ahead of Rest of the World on 67.

Golden girl of the saddle Hayley Turner made her 11th appearance, but it wasn't to be hers on the girls' day. Ninety-two jockeys had taken part in in the 16 previous renewals to which four more were added, debutants Alexander Pietsch from Germany for the European team, Hollie Doyle for the Girls, and Anthony Delpech from South Africa and Keita Tosaki from Japan for the Rest of the World.

The newcomers had a lot of catching up to do. Hayley Turner has not only made the most appearances she has accumulated the most points (215) and most wins of jockeys currently riding. The competition's winning-most jockey Richard Hughes had the chance to become the first Shergar Cup rider to train a winner - in the last of the six £45,000 races.

The competition got off to a thrilling start when Great Britain & Ireland captain Jamie Spencer's late winning dash on Stake Acclaim inducted him into a select group of riders to have scored 2,000 victories in Britain on the Flat.

Stake Acclaim ran just seven days previously behind stablemate Lancelot Du Lac in the same lucky colours of Michael and Heather Yarrow in the prestigious Stewards' Cup at Goodwood - except this time their horse wore the green and black colours of GBI.

For the second race, the two mile Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers, trainer Jim Goldie brought Euchen Glen all the way down from Scotland. Ably assisted by Dutchman Adrie de Vries Euchen Glen came from last to first to win the ride of the meeting award from former Derby-winning jockey John Reid.

Source: Khaleej Times