The 2022 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on Saturday, Aug. 6, is set to feature some of the leading jockeys from around the world as a star-studded line up has been assembled for the unique team competition.
No fewer than ten nations will be represented across the four teams for the 21st renewal of the event at Ascot with riders from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Britain and Ireland competing for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Italian star Frankie Dettori, the winning-most active Royal Ascot jockey, will captain the European team, four time winners of the competition. Dettori will be making his 11th appearance in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and first since 2016.
Frankie Dettori said: “It's been a few years since I've ridden in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and I'm looking forward to it. I love Ascot and it's always a great day so I hope people put it in their diary and come along to have a good time and enjoy something a bit different.
“The European team looks really strong. I remember when we won it in 2014 it was a really special day and hopefully we can lift the trophy again this year.”
He will be joined by compatriot Antonio Fresu as well as last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rene Piechulek from Germany and nine-times champion Spanish jockey Jose-Luis Martinez.
The Great Britain and Ireland team will be captained by Jamie Spencer, who is one of just a handful of jockeys to have ridden more than 2,000 winners, including 26 at Royal Ascot. He will have Danny Tudhope, who enjoyed an excellent Royal Ascot this year with four winners, Neil Callan and Kieran Shoemark alongside him.
The Ladies team, victorious last year for the third time, will once again be captained by Hayley Turner and she will be joined by last year's Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle winner Nicola Currie and multiple Royal Ascot winner Hollie Doyle. The side is completed by Canadian star Emma-Jayne Wilson, who has appeared at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup six times, including when on the winning side in 2015.
Hayley Turner said: “I love the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, it's always one of my favourite days of the year. It's great for the event to have lots of international riders travelling over for the day again and I'm excited to have Emma-Jayne back again on our team.
“Winning last year for the third time was really special as they let me keep the trophy which I've now got at home. The Ladies look strong again with Hollie and Nicola so hopefully we can retain the crown and win the new trophy as well.”
The Rest of the World team features two of Japan's leading riders at the moment in Takeshi Yokoyama and French-born Christophe Lemaire who represents Japan as a JRA licensed jockey. They are joined by three-time Melbourne Cup winner Kerrin McEvoy from Australia and New Zealander Jason Collett, who has enjoyed a superb season in Sydney.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said: “This is an exciting year for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup which is breaking new ground with an extended race programme, more jockeys riding and more prize money on offer than ever before.
“In fact, with £500 available to the horses that finish 11th or 12th, and no entry fees, it is all upside for running in these unique races. Additionally, we will also have our stable bonus scheme in operation for the second time following the King George, with £20,000 going to the three leading trainers on the day and £5,000 to their staff.”
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of title-sponsor Dubai Duty Free, said: “The change in format this year represents another exciting innovation in the evolution of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and further widens the international appeal of this unique event.
“We are looking forward to welcoming back some familiar faces and those making their debuts in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup which promises to be more competitive than ever.”
The Teams
Great Britain & Ireland
- Jamie Spencer (Captain) – Ireland – More than 2,000 career winners including 26 at Royal Ascot. Six appearances at the Shergar Cup and ridden five winners.
- Danny Tudhope – Great Britain – Enjoyed an outstanding Royal Ascot this year with four winners. Only appearance in the Shergar Cup came in 2019.
- Neil Callan – Ireland – Multiple Group 1 winning jockey in Britain and more than 300 winners during nine-year stint in Hong Kong. Ridden at the Shergar Cup twice before.
- Kieran Shoemark – Great Britain – Group 1 winning jockey with Lady Bowthorpe last year and enjoying another excellent season. Yet to ride in the Shergar Cup.
Rest of the World
- Christophe Lemaire (Captain) – Japan – French-born jockey who was the leading rider in Japan five years in a row between 2017-2021. Has won Group 1 races in Japan, Dubai, Australia, France and Britain. Only previous appearance in the Shergar Cup came in 2011.
- Takeshi Yokoyama – Japan – The 23-year-old is one of Japan's rising stars and hit the headlines when partnering Efforia to three Group 1 victories last year including the Tenno Sho and Arima Kinen. First Shergar Cup appearance.
- Kerrin McEvoy – Australia – One of the leading riders in Australia for more than 20 years, winning three Melbourne Cups including on Cross Counter in 2018 for Charlie Appleby. This will be his third Shergar Cup appearance.
- Jason Collett – New Zealand – Enjoyed a superb season this year riding three Group 1 winners and is now one of the go to jockeys in Australia having made the decision to move there from New Zealand in 2010. This will be his Shergar Cup debut.
Ladies
- Hayley Turner (Captain) – Great Britain – The all-time leading rider at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. From 14 appearances, she has won the competition three times and the Silver Saddle twice in 2018 and 2019.
- Hollie Doyle – Great Britain – Multiple Royal Ascot and Group 1 winning jockey. Two Shergar Cup appearances, including when winning in 2018.
- Nicola Currie – Great Britain – Two winners on the day saw her claim the 2021 Silver Saddle and help the Ladies to Shergar Cup victory on her competition debut.
- Emma-Jayne Wilson – Canada – Multiple Graded Stakes winning jockey in Canada with more than 1,700 winners in her career. Six Shergar Cup appearances including when on the winning side in 2015.
Europe
- Frankie Dettori (Captain) – Italy – Winning-most active jockey at Royal Ascot with 77 winners, twenty English Classic successes and three-time Champion Jockey in Britain. Ten Shergar Cup appearances and on the winning side for Europe in 2014.
- Rene Piechulek – Germany – 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner on Torquator Tasso. Making his Shergar Cup debut.
- Antonio Fresu – Italy – Hugely successful in the UAE for the last six seasons, never appeared in the Shergar Cup.
- Jose-Luis Martinez – Spain – Nine times Spanish Champion Jockey, ridden more than 1,200 winners including in Spain, France, Dubai, Italy and Morocco. First Shergar Cup appearance.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup format
The 2022 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup programme will consist of eight races with 12 runners in each race made up of three jockeys from each team. Every jockey will therefore have six rides across the day. Points are awarded on a 15, 10, 7, 5, 3 basis to the first five horses home.
The allocation of rides is determined by a series of ballots and once again leading racing analyst and broadcaster James Willoughby will oversee the process.
Record prize-money for the day will be on offer this year totalling £550,000 with money paid down to 10th place and appearance money for 11th and 12th in every race.
Additionally, £25,000 worth of bonus prizes for the leading stables based on points accrued in the competition will be awarded, split between the trainer and stable staff as follows:
1st – £10,000 to trainer / £2,500 to stable staff
2nd – £7,500 / £1,500
3rd – £2,500 / £1,000
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