Ireland retain DDF Shergar Cup

DUBAI — The Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Shergar Cup, the world’s premier international jockeys challenge, drew a crowd of almost 30,000 to Ascot Racecourse in the UK on Saturday.

Published: Tue 10 Aug 2010, 12:04 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 5:21 AM

Ireland team, led by the in-form Richard Hughes, came up with a sparkling performance to retain the title, a press release said.

The event is contested by 12 top international riders in four teams representing Ireland, Europe, Great Britain and the Rest of the World, and is decided on a points basis over six races.

The Dubai Duty Free Silver Saddle is awarded to the jockey with the highest points total, while the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the day, judged by former champion jockey Joe Mercer and English and Irish Derby winner, John Reid, is presented for the best riding performance.

Before the action on the track got under way, the jockeys were presented to Dubai Duty Free Managing Director, Colm McLoughlin, as part of an elaborate opening ceremony in the winner’s enclosure which included a performance by the official event cheerleaders. After five exciting races, the Irish team of Hughes, Pat Smullen and Fran Berry held a slender five point.

However, second placing on Gene Autry, gave Berry the silver saddle as most successful jockey over the meeting, and enabled the Irishmen to maintain an eight point gap over Europe and keep the title.

“I’m probably the happiest man ever to come second,” said Berry who has stepped so smoothly into Michael Kinane’s boots as first jockey to John Oxx. Luke Nolen, Australian champion jockey of Victoria who had earlier won the Shergar Cup Mile on Set The Trend, took third in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint on Capercaillie: that gave the Rest Of The World third place in the team championship, with hosts Great Britain trailing in last. Berry’s win came on Bernie The Bolt in the Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap. Bernie The Bolt’s trainer Andrew Balding, who doubled up with Set The Trend in the Shergar Cup Mile, articulated the meeting’s attraction.

While the Europe and Great Britain teams won two races each, Ireland picked up more points from their placed efforts and their total of 80 gained them their victory over Europe with the Rest Of The World and Great Britain trailing on 45 and 43 respectively. Fran Berry came close in the concluding Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint on 9-4 favourite Gene Autry but while he could not catch the European captain Olivier Peslier and Gramercy, the second place points were enough for Ireland to follow up from their 2009 victory.