Teams and targets at Ascot
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup returns to Ascot with a compact card that could prove decisive in the team contest. Riders are split across regional sides and a Rest of the World entry, and several established handicappers and improving performers are expected to feature prominently over the afternoon.
Dash and sprint divisions to set the tone
The meeting opens with a dash that brings together a mixture of proven sprinters and emerging types. All Ways Glamorous, a five-year-old representing Team Europe, arrives with course-and-distance form and a recent victory from a reduced mark. The mare will be partnered by Marie Velon and offers Europe an early chance to collect valuable points.
Thunder Call carries the Hong Kong colours in the Shergar Cup Sprint and looks to have conditions at Ascot to his liking following a strong display at York earlier in the season. Trained by William Haggas, the gelding makes his British racing debut in the colours of the Hong Kong team and will be ridden by Jerry Chau.
Cape Ashizuri is another contender in the sprint division for Great Britain and Ireland. Still relatively unexposed, he can rebound from an unhelpful run in a large field and is partnered by jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle for the John and Sean Quinn stable.
Stayers’ test and middle-distance questions
The Stayers’ contest should suit horses with proven stamina. Shrimp Shady, trained by Andrew Balding and partnered by Ryan Moore, arrives on the back of wins in marathon handicaps at Chester and Newbury and looks well suited to Ascot’s stiff two-mile finish.
Ian Williams supplies Hermetic for Team Europe. A former French performer now showing competitive handicap form in Britain, Hermetic finished fourth at Newcastle and could be well treated off a current rating that leaves him competitive at this level.
Challenge and Classic — experience and improving types
The Shergar Cup Challenge features Castle Stuart for the Hong Kong team. The four-year-old, trained by Richard and Peter Fahey, has been campaigned in competitive handicaps and will be ridden by Luke Ferraris, who is familiar across Asian racing circuits.
Night Breeze, another Ian Williams runner who is likely to carry the Irish champion’s rider Dylan Browne McMonagle, brings a consistent profile to the race after a solid Goodwood effort. He will need to find a bit more to take this, however, given the strength of some rivals.
In the Shergar Cup Classic, Archers Bay provides a notable option for Great Britain and Ireland. Trained in Newmarket and regularly competing in competitive handicaps, he has faced several high-class opponents in recent months and will be partnered by Ryan Moore. Team-mate Hoseki arrives on a hat-trick of course-and-distance victories but will carry a higher weight following her recent successes.
Pierre Grosse, trained by Jessie Harrington and now fitted with first-time cheekpieces, represents an interesting, lightly raced alternative and could be capable of further improvement.
Mile to decide the trophy
The Shergar Cup Mile carries weight in the overall team battle and features several horses with Ebor and big-handicap form. Bullet Point, trained by William Haggas and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, steps up wearing the sheepskin noseband for the first time after some underwhelming runs this year and is only marginally higher than when successful in a top handicap at York last season.
Rest of the World will rely on Ebt’s Guard, a course-and-distance winner who has posted competitive efforts at Royal Ascot and Sandown. The gelding’s consistency makes him a contender in a race that could ultimately swing the Shergar Cup outcome.
Competition context
Europe will be looking to end a run without a Shergar Cup success, while Hong Kong and the Rest of the World entries aim to capitalise on strong individual performers. With several races on the card featuring horses that have shown form at major meetings, the contest promises close finishes and strategic rides that could determine the winner of the team trophy.
What to watch
- Course form and suitability to Ascot’s stiff finish, particularly for the sprinters and stayers.
- Weight adjustments and equipment changes, such as the application of sheepskin, which may affect performance.
- Team tactics that could leave individual riders free to chase points for their side or ride for a single favourite.
Ascot’s team format and the mix of experienced handicappers and improving juveniles should deliver an engaging afternoon for festivalgoers and followers of British and international flat racing.
