South Africa’s star jockey Richard Fourie missed selection for Saturday’s Shergar Cup International team due to a suspension, but the top-class five strong team representing the rest of the world could still make their presence felt.
The international jockeys taking part in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot on Saturday looked ahead to the team competition at a media event held at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall, London, on Thursday.
Left to Right: Yuga Kawada, Nanako Fujita, Mark Zahra, Jamie Kah & Vincent Ho Chak-Yiu
Jockeys Yuga Kawada (Japan), Vincent Ho Chak-Yiu (Hong Kong) and Mark Zahra (Australia), who form the Rest Of The World team, plus Jamie Kah (Australia) and Nanako Fujita (Japan), part of The Girls team, discussed the world’s premier international jockeys’ competition, which has four competing teams: Great Britain & Ireland, Europe, Rest Of The World and the 2018 winners, The Girls.
The six-race card, worth a boosted £360,000 in prize money, gets underway at 14h05 with each Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup race boasting £60,000 in prize money.
Odds have been determined by Betfred, the official bookmaker at Ascot, with Great Britain & Ireland, and The Girls 9/4 joint favourites, while 3/1 is offered about both Europe and the Rest of the World.
Betfred spokesman Matt Hulmes said “There are so many potential stories in this year’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup that it should make enthralling viewing.
“Hot on the heels of Deirdre winning at Glorious Goodwood, Japan is represented by Yuga Kawada (10/1 for the Silver Saddle) in the ROW team and also The Girls’ team features Nanako Fujita (9/1), who showed her prowess in Sweden earlier this year.
“Gerald Mosse (8/1) bids to become the first jockey to claim a third Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle after winning the title while leading Europe to victory in 2008 and 2013.
“Danny Tudhope, a 13/2 shot for the Silver Saddle, had an excellent Royal Ascot back in June, gaining four winners during the week, and will look to add to his haul to aid his Flat Jockeys’ title challenge.
“And don’t forget defending champion Hayley Turner either, who herself made history on this stage two months ago when becoming the second female to ride a winner at Royal Ascot. She is the 5/1 favourite to emulate her Silver Saddle success 12 months’ ago.”
