Team Asia Win Shergar Cup On Debut – Overall Standard Criticised

Team Asia’s Ryusei Sakai (left), Suraj Narredu and Mirai Iwata (right) celebrate (Racing TV – Adam Davy/PA)

South African Jockey Academy Graduate Karis Teetan managed a second and a third in five rides as captain of the Rest Of The World team in the Shargar Cup at Ascot.

The overall standard of riding at the compeition was criticised by Lester Piggott’s daughter Maureen Haggas (see her views at the bottom of this article).

The Shergar Cup was won by the Asia team, who were making their debut in the competition and were captained by Indian jockey Suraj Narredu.

The Rest Of The World team made a good start, but faded, although the stalwart Australian team member Hugh Bowman did at least walk away with the Silver Saddle for leading rider.

Sky Sports reported on how it unfolded below:

Vintage Clarets had got the Rest of the World off to the perfect start, taking the Dash under the highly experienced Hugh Bowman.

Team-mate Karis Teetan helped add some more points as Venture Capital came home third, with Asia’s Vespasian under Ryusei Sakai separating the two.

There was a “dream come true” moment for Narredu as Fireblade raced clear to win the Stayers contest for team Asia.

In a steadily run two-mile contest, the 40-year-old was the first to strike to repel all-comers by almost two lengths.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan got Great Britain & Ireland their first victory of the day as Night Breeze took the Challenge.

Sakai is no stranger to big winners around the world and added Ascot to his list, steering Prince Of India to success in the Sprint as Asia struck again.

Europe then bagged its first winner of the competition as favourite Tenability overcame trouble in running in the 12-furlong Classic.

Ridden by France’s all-time leading female jockey Delphine Santiago, Tenability was locked in behind a wall of horses early in the straight but, once the gap opened on the rail, the son of Frankel got rolling to beat Team Player and Dario Di Tocco by a neck.

Ebt’s Guard (13-2) won the Mile under Per-Anders Graberg, but his Europe team agonisingly fell short in the competition as Asia won by a point.

Asia triumphed overall with a score of 68 from Europe on 67, Great Britain and Ireland were third on 62 ahead of the Rest of the World on 55.

However, one of the headlines following the event was the criticism of the overall standard of riding by Maureen Haggas, daughter of jockey legend Lester Piggott.

The below article appeared in the Racing Post, written by Lee Mottershead.

Ascot has been urged by Maureen Haggas to improve the overall quality of riders invited to future Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cups, after she claimed trainers had questioned the capabilities of some of those taking part at the latest staging of the jockeys’ competition.

Haggas, the daughter of riding legend Lester Piggott, revealed her concerns after seeing French jockey Delphine Santiago win by a neck on her husband William’s Tenability. Haggas also expressed opposition to Ascot’s decision to replace the event’s Ladies team with one representing Asia.

Haggas said: “There are some bloody good riders here today, but the general feeling among trainers is that the standard of jockey is noticeably lower than usual. Hugh Bowman and Karis Teetan are very good riders but, without pointing any fingers, there are one or two who maybe shouldn’t be here.

“This is a good event, a great concept and a popular day, but trainers need to have confidence in the jockeys. I’m not trying to be cruel about anyone, but I think the organisers need to be a little more selective.

“I also think they should have kept the Ladies team. We’ve just had the Euros, which showed again how much people are into women’s sport, so why not keep the Ladies team.

Responding to Haggas’s comments, Ascot director of racing and public affairs Nick Smith said: “We’re really pleased with the new format and it’s great for awareness of the event that Asia won, given the media coverage in India and Japan in the run-up. Suraj Narredu winning ride of the day will only enhance that further.

“Once again both the team and jockey competitions went to the wire thanks to the draw formula that James Willoughby provides.

“As always with these things, there will be cases where lack of track experience and suchlike can play a part. We are sympathetic to that and will take all comments on board.”