Ladies team captain Hayley Turner registered her 10th Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup victory at Ascot on Saturday with a brave front-running success on Ranch Hand in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers.
Turner, appearing at her 17th Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, was able to conserve energy on her mount, and that proved crucial in the closing stages as the Andrew Balding-trained eight-year-old battled back to beat Beamish by a head.
Beamish (12/1) held second under Seamie Heffernan, while The Grand Visir (11/1) provided Europe with much-needed points by taking third under Italian rider Alberto Sanna.
Hayley Turner returns on Ranch Hand (Pic – Megan Coggin)
Turner said: “What a tough horse. He got headed, battled on back, and just stayed very well. Andrew told me to just let him bowl along and enjoy himself. It makes a change because it is usually the straight mile and I come from behind, but I made the running over two today to mix it up a bit.
“Andrew is really, really good to me. I pop down during the summer months, once a week, and I tend to ride a lot of his light rides. It is nice for the Kingsclere Racing Club [owners], I had a winner for them here last week, and they’re always out in force. I’ve got all my family here, friends – we always have such a good day.”
On being a Shergar Cup regular, she said: “It is not something I ever set out to do, but I’ve been lucky enough to get invited back most years and I really enjoy it. It’s not like it’s taking over racing, it happens occasionally and I really enjoy it as it’s something a bit different. It’s just fun.”
Balding said: “I am delighted for the horse because he has had a few problems and is a very able horse in his prime – he was a Listed winner. It looks like the fire is still there, so we are thrilled.
“The Cesarewitch is very much an option. He likes Newmarket. He actually started favourite for it as a three-year-old, a long time ago now. It was a bit much for him then, but I think it’s the right race now.”
Balding’s father Ian trained Glint Of Gold to be second to Shergar in the 1981 Derby. Balding said: “Shergar was a great horse. I remember that almost as my first racing memory, watching them come past the post. There was a big long gap and Glint of Gold passed the line in second. He was a fabulous racehorse and this is a very worthy day to remember him. I think the Shergar Cup is great as a one-off. Ascot does a lovely job hosting it and the prize money incentives are a big bonus for the owners.”
Beamish’s rider Seamie Heffernan said: “I knew he was a tough horse from Ireland. He had a bit of a set-back and this is his third or fourth run back. Archie was confident to ride him forward and he said he should fight it out, with a bit of luck. Archie was spot on and I headed Hayley for a few strides, but she got me. She’s good, isn’t she?!”
Alberto Sanna said of The Grand Visir: “It was nice. Unfortunately, we needed at least another furlong. It was brilliant for a 10-year-old – he found his second wind in the last 50 metres, so he needs further.”
Team standings after race 2
- GBI 27
- LADIES 23
- ROW 20
- EUR 10
Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle standings after race 2
Hayley Turner LADIES 15
- Rachel Venniker ROW 15
- Seamie Heffernan GBI 10
- Billy Loughnane GBI 10
- Marie Velon LADIES 8
- Tadhg O’Shea GBI 7
- Alberto Sanna EUR 7
- Nanako Fujita ROW 5
- Jose-Luis Borrego EUR 3
- Bauyrzhan Murzabayev EUR 0
- Joanna Mason LADIES 0
- Rachel King ROW 0
