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Team Rest Of The World Looking Forward To Shergar Cup

A few days out from the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, five jockeys, including the entire Rest of the World Team, were on hand to answer questions from the media at Ascot Racecourse. Held on Aug. 6, four teams (GB & Ire, Rest of the World, Europe, and Ladies) will compete across eight races gathering points, with awards handed out for the top team and top rider. Rest of the World Team Captain Christophe Lemaire was joined by the Australian-based pair of Kerrin McEvoy and Jason Collett, as well as Japan's Takeshi Yokoyama. Ladies team member Emma-Jayne Wilson (Canada), was also on hand.

Lemaire, a five-time champion jockey in Japan, said, “I think it has been 10 years since I last had a ride at Ascot. I have had a month off and there is no better place to get back in the saddle than here. Every time you race here, there is an excitement because you know it is an important occasion–you are competing against the best horses and the best jockeys in front of a great atmosphere.

“I am really looking forward to the Shergar Cup. We have a strong team made up of experience, with myself and Kerrin, and then the two young guns in Jason and Takeshi. I think it will be a nice combination as we try to win the title, and Kerrin's experience will be very important. He is a top-class jockey and has enjoyed a lot of success in England.”

Formerly Godolphin's number two rider back in the early 2000s, McEvoy is competing in his third Shergar Cup, and said, “It is exciting to be back. I haven't ridden here since 2019, when I did a little stint while William [Buick] was injured. This is a great part of the world to visit, let alone ride horses.”

New Zealander Jason Collett is competing in his first Shergar Cup, and was also experience Ascot Racecourse for the first time. The 31-year-old said, “This is my first time at Ascot and, I have to say, it is something else with the grandstand and everything. This place obviously has a bit of history, so it is pretty awesome to be here.”

Takeshi Yokoyama, who comes from a family of Group 1-winning jockeys, earned five Group 1 victories last year headed by Japanese Classic success on Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) and Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}).

Yokoyama said via translator, “This is my first time at Ascot and my first time in the UK. I am really excited to be here and am appreciative of the invitation. Riding in the Shergar Cup will be a new experience for me. It is a big honour to represent Japan and hopefully I can learn a lot.”

Wilson, the most successful female jockey of all time in Canada, said, “I was supposed to come back for the Shergar Cup in 2020 but obviously the pandemic shut everything down. I think it must be five years since I last rode here, so it feels great to be back.

“I love this event and the novelty of it all. The international element is amazing and it is something you don't find unless you are in a competition like this. The team aspect creates a special camaraderie.”

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Nicola Currie Leads Ladies Team to Shergar Cup Win

A pair of wins for Nicola Currie saw the jockey win the Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” Trophy and assist the Ladies Team to Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup glory at Ascot.

Going into the finale, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash, the Ladies Team had a five-point advantage, but Team Ireland finished first and second with Joe Fanning and Tadhg O'Shea. Currie was third, giving the Shergar Cup to the Ladies Team by three points with 69 points. Ireland was second on 66 points, with Great Britain third with 64. Team Rest of the World was fourth with 53. Currie won the overall riding title with 47 points, 18 ahead of David Egan of Team Ireland. Veteran reinswoman Haley Turner was also presented with the original Shergar Cup in recognition of her amassing 304 points over her appearances in the unique competition.

Currie, who partnered with Turner and Mickaelle Michel for the Ladies Team victory, said, “What a team. In the end they were straightforward rides and straightforward winners. It's been a fantastic day and thanks to all the owners and trainers who have helped today.

“Ascot is my favourite racecourse. I love riding here. I've been lucky over the years here and it's great to have won the Silver Saddle. All the publicity is great, it's hard work being a jockey and any publicity is good publicity.”

Turner, Captain of the Ladies team, said, “Well done to Nicola she has rode out of her skin today. The Shergar Cup has helped me over the years by projecting my career and hopefully it will be the same for Nicola as she deserves more quality rides than she is getting. I love the Shergar Cup, it is so much fun.”

Michel added, “I've loved riding today. I was close on a second and it would have been lovely to win a race but riding at Ascot has been brilliant.”

Nick Smith, Ascot's Director of Racing & Public Affairs, commented, “It has been a good day and tremendous to be back after a year's absence. We are grateful to the sponsors for standing by us.

“Credit must go to James Willoughby who has done the algorithms and puts the teams together. He made it a level playing field and has done it for several years. However, this will be his crowning glory given three teams finished right up next to each other.

“It's lovely to see Nicola shine–that is what the event is about, to give people a profile, and I'm sure she will remember this for a long time. It's also nice to give Hayley the existing Shergar Cup, which is much deserved. It was not her day today, but seven points was enough to put her over the 300 threshold of Shergar Cup points. Credit to Mark Johnston who is the Leading Trainer and he went away with a £2,000 stable prize.”

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Turner Confirmed For Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup

The 20th running of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will feature veteran reinswoman Hayley Turner, Ascot announced on Tuesday. Turner, who has won the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle in 2018 and 2019, is the leading jockey in the history of the event with 297 points from 13 appearances.

Turner said, “I'm excited that the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is around the corner. It's one of my favourite days of the year. The girls team is always strong and we get lots of supporters which is great. It's going to be fun!”

Slated for Aug. 7, the full make-up of the teams will be revealed in due course, with a different line up than in past years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Great Britain and Ireland will be split into two teams for the first time since 2011. There will also be a Ladies' team and a Rest of the World team, but the latter will likely be made up of European jockeys only due to ongoing travel restrictions. New for this edition, Each of the 12 riders will sport a different coloured cap. Cerise and black silks will represent the Ladies' team, blue and black are the colours of Great Britain, Ireland will have green and black silks and the Rest of the World team will bear yellow and black silks.

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