Stellar line-up for new-look Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup

Dubai: The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, the world’s premier international jockeys’ competition, returns to Ascot on Saturday, 9th August with a stellar cast and a new look to its unique format.

Four teams will again compete for the chance to lift the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup in a battle fought out over six competitive races worth a total of 500,000 pounds with the newly created Asia team replacing the Ladies team recognising that female jockeys compete on a level playing field with their male counterparts.

The Aisia team will be captained by Indian star rider Suraj Narredu who will be joined by Japanese jockey Ryusei Saka, already a household name on the international scene through his partnership with Shin Emperor and the world’s currently highest rated horse the globe-trotting Forever Young. Saka’s Japanese compatriot, Mirai Iwata, the 2023 World All-Star Jockeys’ title winner who is spending the summer with Newmarket trainer William Haggas completes the line-up.

Leading British rider Hollie Doyle will make her fourth appearance at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup as she captains the Great Britain & Ireland team. Doyle will be joined by Irishman Robbie Dolan, winner of the Lexus Melbourne Cup in November on Knight’s Choice and Joanna Mason the northern-based former Amateur Lady Jockeys’ Flat Champion and granddaughter of Classic-winning trainer Mick Easterby.

Ten-time Swedish champion jockey Per-Anders Gråberg will make his first appearance in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup since 2018 when he captains Europe. Gråberg’s teammates will be France’s all-time leading female jockey, Delphine Santiago, who has received the Cravache d’Or for leading woman rider in France on 11 occasions and competed in international jockey competitions in Japan and Saudi Arabia, and Italy’s champion jockey in 2023 and 2024 Darrio Di Tocco making his Shergar Cup debut.

Rest of the World will be captained by Mauritian jockey Karis Teetan, who has ridden over 700 winners in Hong Kong including the likes of top-level stars Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying Rising. Teetan will be joined by Hugh Bpwman best known for his association with champion racemare Winx, whom he partnered to a record 25 G1 victories in Australia and Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debutante, Katie Davis, a multiple Stakes-winning jockey in the US with just shy of 350 career wins and who featured in the recent Netflix series, Race for the Crown.

Dubai Dubai Duty Free has been involved in the competition since its inception and has been title sponsor for more than two decades.

Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi said, “We are delighted to support this further step in the development of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup which continues to evolve to reflect our shared values and the spirit of top international competition.

“We very much look forward to seeing how this year’s competition plays out and to welcoming the jockeys at one of the world’s greatest horseracing venues, particularly those making their Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debuts.”