Dubai: This weekend’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will see some old faces return to action, but South African champion S’Manga Khumalo is hoping he can create a big impact when he makes his debut in the world’s premier jockey’s competition.
Khumalo, who will represent the Rest of the World (ROW) along with top Australian jockey Crag Williams and Japanese star Yuichi Fukunaga, says he feels honoured to be competing against the likes of Frankie Dettori, Olivier Peslier and Richard Hughes.
“Winning the Durban July [in 2013] was my career highlight and sent a message to all black South Africans that racing is a sport for all in the modern era,” said Khumalo, who made history by becoming the first black South African to ride the winner of Africa’s premier race.
“To be recognised globally and invited to ride in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on the back of that victory is another very proud moment for me.
“I would like up-and-coming black riders to be able to look up to me and think, ‘one day I could ride like that’.”
Khumalo’s ROW will compete against three other teams — Great Britain and Ireland, Europe and The Girls — in the unique six-race, points-based competition that is celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Britain’s Hayley Turner competes in her eighth Shergar Cup on the The Girls’ team, having missed last year due to injury.
She teams up with Canadian star Emma-Jayne Wilson, who participated in the competition in 2006 and 2012, and Steffi Hofer from Germany, daughter of trainer Mario Hofer, who is making her debut.
Hofer said: “Whilst being in the top six or seven jockeys riding, numerically, in Germany this year, I never thought I would get a chance to take part at this level — this has come as a huge endorsement.”
Dettori will skipper defending champions Europe, who also feature French ace Peslier and big-race Dutch rider Adrie de Vries.
Tom Queally captains Great Britain and Ireland alongside British champion jockey Hughes and veteran Jimmy Fortune, who replaces Ryan Moore.
The Shergar Cup was first held in 1999 at Goodwood Racecourse, but has been held at Ascot since 2000. The competition is named in honour of the legendary 1981 Epsom Derby winner Shergar.
