Team Ladies accumulated 78 point to just edge Team Rest of the World by five points to take the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot on Saturday.
Hollie Doyle and Saffie Osborne each rode two winners on the day, and Doyle scored points with each of her five rides, resulting in her first Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle, awarded to the day's leading rider. Her points total for the day stands at 48.
After winning with The Very Man (Ire) (Jeremy) and Regal Empire (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers and the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic respectively, Doyle said, “I haven't won the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle before, so it's great to have that on my CV. I got to ride in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup first when I was an apprentice, and it let me showcase myself on a wider stage internationally.
“I rode a winner for Clive Cox and I ended up riding out and had quite a few winners for him–I actually rode him a listed winner–so something really did come of that opportunity, and I think it is important in that regard. It's a very good meeting and Ascot do a great job.”
Osborne was successful aboard Scampi (GB) (Nayef) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge and Dark Trooper (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint. Hayley Turner, the most successful jockey in the history of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, captained the Ladies Team but was unable to add to her cumulative 322 points.
She said, “It has been good fun again and it is nice to have all the family here. This has been the best Ladies team we have ever had–I did not get any points at all and they carried me. It has been great fun and I hope I can do this for many years.”
Kazuo Yokoyama won the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Dash with Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), which helped boost Team Rest of the World to second with 73 points. Perotto (GB) (New Bay {GB}), with Thore Hammer Hansen aboard, won the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile with Team Europe accumulating 54 points. Team Great Britain and Ireland was fourth with 35 points.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said, “It has been another brilliant Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, with the competition going all the way to the final race. It was fantastic to see Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle winner Hollie Doyle and debutante Saffie Osborne ride doubles to land the competition for the Ladies, their fourth success in the last eight renewals.
“We were also thrilled to see international success for Kazuo Yokoyama, which will have been hugely popular in Japan, and delighted that Thore Hammer Hansen rode a winner after stepping in so late in the day.
“Andrew Balding takes home £12,500 for his yard as the leading trainer on the day and, once again, we are hugely grateful to all the trainers and owners for supporting this unique event. There has been more than £500,000 on offer to participants today, which we wouldn't be able to do without the sponsors Dubai Duty Free, so a huge thanks goes to them for their continued to long-standing support.”
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