Dubai: Irish apprentice Sammy Jo Bell slammed home a pair of smart wins to help the Girls team upstage their male rivals and sensationally win a first Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot racecourse in England on Saturday.
Some of the world’s top riders representing the other three teams — Rest of the World, Great Britain & Ireland and Europe — met their match on a glorious afternoon as racing’s only team competition threw up plenty of thrilling moments.
Perhaps none more than when Bell landed the Silver Saddle as leading jockey with two wins and a fourth place from her five rides for a total of 35 points. Her standout performance, coupled with Canadian Emma Jayne-wilson’s victory earlier went a long way to helping the Girls amass a winning total of 80 points.
Captaining three-time winners Great Britain & Ireland, former British and Irish champion jockey Jamie Spencer also scored a double but it was not enough to thwart the trio of Bell, Wilson and Hayler Turner.
“This is by far the happiest moment of my career,” said Bell, who was a late replacement for the injured Cathy Gannon.
“Two days ago, I would never have imagined riding in the Shergar Cup so, to have two winners, is absolutely amazing,”
“What a life-changing experience it has been, to win the Silver Saddle and compete against such highly-talented riders. It’s been incredible.”
Bell, whose pair of victories came aboard Royal Signaller in the 3,200 metre Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers and with Shell Bay in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic, said: “It’s absolutely amazing, I am speechless — I can’t tell you how much it means.
“When you ride with confidence, the gaps open and it just all works out good.”
Wilson, who rode two winners at last year’s Shergar Cup but still saw Europe prize out a two-point victory, was equally thrilled and said: “We fought all the way to the line and I had absolutely no idea that I had won [aboard Missed Call in the Shergar Cup Classic].
“We are out here having a good time, showcasing these amazing animals and let these people watch it and enjoy it as much as I do. I wish everybody in the stands could experience what I experience right here.”
