THE DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP MEDIA GUIDE - Ascot, Saturday, August 12, 2017 - Ascot Racecourse
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THE DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP
Ascot, Saturday, August 12, 2017
MEDIA GUIDE
1
INDEX
3 The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup
5 Order of Running & Admission Details
6 Raceday Programme, Concert Schedule
7 The Prizes, Stable Staff Awards
8 Best Day’s Racing for Owners, Reserves & Winning Post – The Official Bookmaker
9 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Rules, Draw Procedure, Allocation of Horses to Teams &
Jockeys to Mounts
10 Great Britain & Ireland Team
11 Europe Team
12 The Girls Team
13 The Rest Of The World Team
15 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Previous Results at Ascot
17 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Leading Jockeys & Jockey Records, Record of Teams in the
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup
19 Remembering Shergar
20 Dubai Duty Free – an unrivalled airport retailer
21 The Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle
22 Ascot Media Contacts
2
THE DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP
• The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is the world’s premier jockeys’ competition, a unique event
where three top riders in each of four teams - Great Britain & Ireland, Europe, Rest of the World and
The Girls - battle against each other in a thrilling six-race showdown.
• Canada’s Emma-Jayne Wilson, who captained and inspired The Girls to a famous victory in 2015,
is back and will team up again with Britain’s most successful female jockey ever, Hayley Turner, who
will be riding in a record 11th Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. They should be joined by newcomer
Michelle Payne who made history in 2015 and became a worldwide sensation when the first female
rider to win the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops Australia, on the 100/1 chance Prince of
Penzance. Payne missed out on the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup last year because of injury. Turner,
a familiar face on At The Races and ITV Racing since retiring from race riding at the end of 2015,
has returned to the saddle on occasions in 2017 and recently revealed she will be riding in France
this winter to take advantage of a 2kg allowance for female jockeys. Wilson, Canada’s most successful
female rider having ridden nearly 1,400 North American winners, returns for her sixth Dubai Duty
Free Shergar Cup appearance.
• Michelle Payne plans to make her Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut in 2017. She has been feeling
a little under the weather since arriving in the UK, however, and as this is a unique jockeys’
competition, Hollie Doyle has kindly agreed to be on standby. Hollie will be able to claim her 3lb
apprentices’ allowance on any mounts she is required to take. Nick Smith, Director of Racing &
Communications, Ascot, said: “We hope very much that Michelle will be fit to ride. She is resting up
now, and very hopeful. We are very grateful to Hollie for agreeing to sit on the subs bench on
Saturday, before she goes off to ride at Lingfield in the evening.”
• Dual Melbourne Cup winner Kerrin McEvoy, who knows Ascot well after his stint with Godolphin,
leads the Rest Of The World for the second time, following third place in 2015. His teammates are
two new recruits to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup – South African Anthony Delpech and Keita
Tosaki, Japan’s champion jockey. Both jockeys are riding in Britain for the first time at the 2017
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
• Team Europe is captained by Netherlands-born Adrie De Vries, who has ridden all around the
world and earlier this year won the G2 Dubai City of Gold on Godolphin’s Prize Money at Meydan.
He has enjoyed a winner at Ascot and is joined by Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debutant Alexander
Pietsch, the German champion jockey in 2015 and runner-up in 2016. It will be Pietsch’s first Dubai
Duty Free Shergar Cup appearance, but the second time riding at Ascot having partnered Agenor
(13th) in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot 2016. The team is completed by Italy’s Umberto
Rispolli, a dual champion jockey in his homeland who is now a Hong Kong regular.
• Dual British champion jockey Jamie Spencer, making his fifth Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup
appearance, leads the Great Britain and Ireland team. He is vastly experienced at Ascot and has
enjoyed 24 Royal Ascot victories. The team also consists of British-based Fran Berry and Hong
Kong-based Neil Callan. Both have participated in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup previously, with
Berry the leading jockey at the 2010 event.
• The six races are limited to 10 runners with either two or three horses racing for each team (this
balances itself out over the course of the afternoon), and points are awarded on a 15, 10, 7, 5, 3 basis
to the first five horses home (non-runners score 4 points).
• Subject to full fields, each jockey has five rides. This is to ensure that in the event of an injury,
there is a spare jockey on each team who can assume mounts. The team with the highest total after
the sixth race lifts the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
3
• The jockey amassing the most individual points will take home an additional £3,000 plus the
Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” trophy.
• All six races are handicaps and all will be run with identical prize money - £45,000 per race.
• There are two reserves per race, who can be utilised up to 45 minutes before each contest is run.
• Owners have a fantastic opportunity on Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Day - there are no entry fees
for the races, there is prize money down to last place (with reserves that miss out on a run paid £500
appearance money) and there is complimentary hospitality throughout the day.
• Dubai Duty Free has been associated with the Shergar Cup since its inception, initially as team
sponsor of the Rest of the World team and as a race sponsor. In 2006, the company became title
sponsor for the first time and since 2014 has sponsored the entire event.
• The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is being run for the 17th time at Ascot. The Shergar Cup first
took place at Ascot in 2000 as a jockeys’ competition. It has gone from strength to strength ever
since, attracting bumper crowds year after year, and 2017 is already sold out. The event did not
happen in 2005 because the racecourse was being redeveloped.
• The jockeys competing in the four-team Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will again wear full team
colours at this year’s renewal. Please see the jockeys’ biographies section (pages 10-14) for further
information about this year’s team colours.
• Cheerleaders will welcome the winning rider back after each race and be part of the opening and
closing ceremonies.
• Each team will have an anthem for the day, played whenever they have a winner - GB&I: The Boys
Are Back in Town; ROW: Rockin All Over The World; GIRLS: Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves;
EUR: Ca Plane Pour Moi.
• The tote is offering an overall team bet and a Silver Saddle/Top Jockey bet.
• All six races will be broadcast for first time by ITV, on the ITV4 channel.
• Since 2012, when the existing four teams first competed against each other, the Dubai Duty Free
Shergar Cup has been won twice by Europe (2013 & 2014) and Rest of the World (2012 & 2016) and
once by The Girls (2015).
“The competition remembers Shergar, who won the 1981 Derby at Epsom Downs by the record
margin of 10 lengths.
• Away from the track, the racing will be followed by the ever-popular Party In The Paddock. Craig
David presents TS5 headlines this year's concert and he will be joined by All Saints and Welsh rock
band Feeder. Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills will also perform between sets and into the evening to keep
racegoers entertained.
4
ORDER OF RUNNING
Ascot, Saturday, August 12, 2017
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup
The Dubai Duty Free
1.05 pm Shergar Cup Dash 3+ £45,000 5f
(Handicap) (Class 2)(86-105)
The Dubai Duty Free
1.40 pm Shergar Cup Stayers 4+ £45,000 1m 7f 209y
(Handicap) (Class 2)(81-100)
The Dubai Duty Free
2.15 pm Shergar Cup Challenge 4+ £45,000 1m 3f 211y
(Handicap) (Class 3)(76-95)
The Dubai Duty Free
2.50 pm Shergar Cup Mile 4+ £45,000 7f 213y
(Handicap) (Class 2)(81-100)
The Dubai Duty Free
3.25 pm Shergar Cup Classic 3 £45,000 1m 3f 211y
(Handicap) (Class 3)(76-95)
The Dubai Duty Free
4.00 pm Shergar Cup Sprint 3 £45,000 6f
(Handicap) (Class 2)(81-100)
ADMISSION DETAILS
All enclosures are SOLD OUT except for some hospitality packages –
please go to www.ascot.co.uk for further information.
5
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
RACEDAY PROGRAMME
11:00am Gates Open
12:15pm Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Opening Ceremony
1.05pm Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup First Race
4:00pm Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Last Race
4.10pm Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Closing Ceremony
4:30pm Concert Starts (subject to change)
8:30pm Concert Finishes (subject to change)
Times may be subject to change
CONCERT SCHEDULE
(TIMINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ON THE DAY)
CRAIG DAVID PRESENTS TS5
From a UK Garage pioneer to a mainstream multi-million seller, Craig David is so much more than
your average artist. The Southampton born singer is a truly exceptional individual who transcends
the norm, consistently outdoes expectation and continues to push musical boundaries. From Ivor
Novello awards to sales of over 13 million, two No.1s, 14 Top 10 hits, huge success in America and
sold-out shows across the world, Craig is one of the UK music scene’s most successful male solo
artists. 7.10pm.
ALL SAINTS
All Saints (Melanie Blatt, Shaznay Lewis, Natalie & Nicole Appleton) became one of the most
successful pop groups of the 1990s, with two multi-platinum albums and record sales in excess of 12
million worldwide. Their debut album, ‘All Saints’ went 5x platinum and produced 3 number-one
singles, including the double BRIT award-winning ‘Never Ever’ which ended up selling over 1.2
million copies in the UK. The album also spawned the No 1 singles ‘Under the Bridge/Lady
Marmalade’ & ‘Bootie Call’. 5.50pm.
FEEDER
Following their Top 10 album and sold out Autumn tour in 2016, Feeder return to complete the
second half of their #AllBrightElectric Tour in 2017. The group first shot to fame when their debut
EP ‘Swim’ was released to huge critical acclaim in 1996. Since then they have had 25 Top 40 hits
with the likes of ‘Feeling A Moment, ‘Just The Way I’m Feeling’, ‘Just A Day’ and ‘Buck Rogers’ and
amassed over five million record sales along with three Platinum and two Gold Albums. 4.40pm.
SCOTT MILLS
Scott Mills will be hosting the after-racing concert and DJ’ing before and between acts. Scott's BBC
Radio 1 show has created some of the most popular radio features ever, from Flirt Divert, Playground
Insults and the world famous Innuendo Bingo. 4.40pm and 8.10pm to 8.30pm.
6
THE PRIZES
THE SHERGAR CUP
At stake for the winning team is the magnificent Shergar Cup, which depicts the mighty 1981 Derby
and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner. It was graciously provided by His Highness
The Aga Khan, who owned Shergar.
Points will be awarded to the first five horses to finish in each of the six Dubai Duty Free Shergar
Cup races as follows - winner: 15 points; second: 10 points; third: 7 points; fourth: 5 points; fifth: 3
points. If there is a non-runner which cannot be replaced by a reserve, 4 points will be awarded both
to the team and jockey missing out on the ride. The team with the most points after the six races
have been run will receive the Shergar Cup at the closing ceremony.
If a dead-heat occurs in a race, the points for the two places are added together, divided by two and
shared between the two jockeys/teams.
If there is a tie for the Team or Silver Saddle competitions, there will be a countback on the number
of winners and the team/jockey with the most winners will be adjudged the winner overall; if they
are still level, then second places will be counted, then if necessary third places and then if necessary
fourth places. If they are still level, there will be joint winners.
The six races are worth a total of £270,000 in prize money, paid down to 10th (last) place in all six
races. With no entry fees to pay and £500 in number cloth sponsorship per contest for the ITV-
televised races, these are the only races run during the year in Britain when every owner represented
by a runner should be guaranteed to, at the very least, cover their costs.
ALISTAIR HAGGIS “SILVER SADDLE”
The jockey amassing the most individual points will take home an additional £3,000 plus the Alistair
Haggis “Silver Saddle” trophy.
DUBAI DUTY FREE RIDE OF THE DAY
One jockey will receive the Dubai Duty Free Ride Of The Day Award.
STABLE STAFF AWARDS
Stable staff will once again benefit from special prizes worth over £5,000, more than on any other
raceday in Britain. There is a £200 prize for the groom in charge of the best turned out horse in
every race, while the winning lad or lass in each race will also receive £200. In addition, £100 will
be given to the lad or lass leading up the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th horses (i.e. the other points’ scorers)
in every race. Stable staff will enjoy free food and drink in the stable staff canteen.
7“BEST DAY’S RACING FOR OWNERS”
* Free entry for every race - so there’s nothing whatsoever to lose by entering.
* £270,000 in prize money.
* Last (10th) place prize money worth £553 in all races.
* Number cloth sponsorship in all ITV-televised races.
* Free hospitality - high-class buffet lunch, afternoon tea and free bar all day for owners and
trainers with runners or reserves.
* Travel allowance of £500 for reserves if they do not get a run.
RESERVES
There are two reserves for every race. A reserve can be brought in up to 45 minutes before each race.
Runners have to declare to run one hour before each race, at which point there is a 15-minute
window in which to bring in a reserve if there is a non-runner.
Reserves that do not get a run will receive a £500 travel allowance.
WINNING POST – THE OFFICIAL BOOKMAKER
For the fourth year, Winning Post is the official bookmaker to the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Winning Post was established over 30 years ago by Roy Holbrook with its first shop in Filton on the
north side of Bristol. The firm has a chain of nine shops in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Wales.
Winning Post commenced the operation of the main betting shop at Ascot Racecourse shortly before
Royal Ascot in 2014 and also operates the racecourse betting shop at Cheltenham.
For further information, please go to www.winning-post.co.uk
8DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP RULES
The competition is an international jockeys’ tournament with 12 riders taking part, three in each of
the four teams - The Girls (GIRLS) Great Britain & Ireland (GBI), Europe (EUR) and the Rest of the
World (ROW). All horses entered are eligible to represent one of the four teams, regardless of
ownership, and to be ridden by any of the jockeys participating in the competition.
The six races will be limited to 10 runners and two reserves.
Reserves must travel to Ascot on the day and can be substituted up until 45 minutes before their
race. Reserves who do not run will be paid £500.
Entries must be made by noon on Monday, August 7.
Declarations to run must be made at the 48-hour stage, by 10.00am on Thursday, August 10. The
top 10 in the weights (including penalties) at the 48-hour declaration stage will run, with those
horses 11th and 12th in the weights acting as reserves.
DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP DRAW PROCEDURE
The British Horseracing Authority has granted special permission to the Ascot Racecourse Executive
to stage a Draw on Thursday, August 10, at which jockeys from the four competing teams will be
allocated horses.
ALLOCATION OF HORSES TO TEAMS AND JOCKEYS TO
MOUNTS
1. In all races, the horses selected to run will be the top 10 in the handicap. Race analyst and
broadcaster James Willoughby will rank the horses from 1-10 after declaration.
2. Once the ranking process has been completed, the four team names will go into a ballot. The order
in which they are randomly drawn will determine which set of horses is allocated to each team.
3. Using a mathematical model, the International Racing Bureau (IRB) will then allocate jockeys
automatically using the rankings. This gives the jockeys and teams an even spread of fancied mounts
through the meeting.
4. A second ballot will then take place. The three jockeys representing each team will be drawn at
random to determine an order (e.g. The Girls 1, The Girls 2 & The Girls 3) and will then be allocated
to their rides according to the set formula.
5. The allocation of rides by this method will be final. Any trainer declaring a horse to run at the 48-
hour declaration stage is deemed to have accepted these conditions.
6. All owners of participating horses agree that jockeys will wear the colours of the team which they
represent as part of an agreement with the Racehorse Owners Association. All jockeys participating
in this race will carry their names on the back of their silks.
9GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND
Jamie Spencer (Ireland, Captain)
Born: June 8, 1980, County Tipperary, Ireland. Background: Son of George Spencer, who trained
Winning Fair to win the 1963 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham; went to school with Fozzy Stack, son
of trainer Tommy, and rode ponies at their yard as a child. Achieved first winner on Huncheon Chance
for trainer Ian Ferguson at Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, on May 11, 1996. Sprang to prominence by
winning the Irish 1000 Guineas in 1998 on Stack-trained Tarascon at age of 17 when apprenticed to
Liam Browne, through whose hands jockeys Mick Kinane, Mark Dwyer, Tommy Carmody and Stephen
Craine had also passed. Spencer was brought over to Britain by the Stack family friend, Barney Curley,
to ride Magic Combination to win over hurdles at Kempton in January, 1999. He survived a stewards'
enquiry to take 2002 Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival on Edward
O'Grady-trained Pizarro, but had concentrated on the Flat and began a two-year contract with trainer
Luca Cumani, based in Newmarket, in 2002. Spencer was signed up by the Coolmore team to ride as
first-choice rider to replace Mick Kinane in 2004, becoming Ireland's champion jockey that year, but handed in his
notice at Ballydoyle in early 2005 to go freelance. Retained jockey for Jim & Fitri Hay between 2010 and 2012 before
signing a two-year deal, which commenced on January 1, 2013, to ride for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, whose horses run
under the Qatar Racing Limited banner. He shocked the racing world by announcing on August 21, 2014, that he would
retire from race riding at the end of the year but had a change of heart and now operates as a freelance. Was married to
broadcaster Emma Spencer (nee Ramsden), but they divorced in 2010. Career highlights: Champion Apprentice
Ireland (1999), Champion Jockey Ireland (2004), Champion Jockey Britain (2005 & 2007 when dead-heated with Seb
Sanders). He has ridden 24 Royal Ascot winners, including two in 2017. He has partnered more than 2,175 winners in
total.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 4 (2004, 2006, 2008, 2015); Wins 3; Points: 93
Neil Callan (Ireland)
Born: July 6, 1978, in County Kildare Background: initially rode in Ireland for Willie Fitzpatrick and
Kevin Prendergast. After a luckless spell in his native country, he considered giving up riding to work
as a kitchen fitter before time as a work rider for Karl Burke in Yorkshire changed his mind. It was Burke
who suggested that he should take out a licence again and on May 4, 1998, he rode a winner at Warwick
on his first ride in Britain. Callan did not look back and was crowned champion apprentice in 1999. He
was subsequently appointed stable jockey to Kevin Ryan and enjoyed Group One successes for the
trainer on Amadeus Wolf (2005 Middle Park Stakes) and Palace Episode (2005 Racing Post Trophy).
Ryan also provided Callan with a first Royal Ascot winner when Uhoomagoo was successful in the 2006
Buckingham Palace Stakes. Between 2004 and 2010, Callan rode over 100 winners each year, finishing
second in the jockeys’ championship in 2005 (151 winners) and 2007 (170). In the winter of 2010/11,
he was granted a three-month licence in Hong Kong. He continued this arrangement in Hong Kong for
the following three winters, riding 12, nine and finally 27 winners. The 2014/15 season saw Callan become a retained
rider, along with 13 other jockeys, for the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He has continued ever since in Hong Kong where he
has partnered 197 winners, with the best horses he has ridden there being Peniaphobia and Blazing Speed. He finished
third with 47 successes in the 2016/17 Hong Kong season which ended on July 16.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 1 (2009); Wins 1; Points: 29
Fran Berry (Ireland)
Born: January 2, 1981 Background: Bred to be a jockey. His father Frank has been a Classic-winning
apprentice (Giolla Mea in the 1968 Irish St Leger) who went to become Irish champion jump rider 10
times and - after a spell training - is now racing manager to owner J P McManus. Fran Berry, whose
brother Alan is a successful National Hunt amateur, originally made his name as a jump jockey, winning
the 1999 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival on Khayrawani. Despite being 5 foot 8 inches tall, he is
able to ride off 8st 8lb and now concentrates on the Flat. He served as second rider behind Mick Kinane
at John Oxx's powerful Curragh stable from 2002 until the end of 2009 when Kinane retired and Berry
was promoted to the number one spot. But following the appointment of Johnny Murtagh in 2011, he
relinquished that role to become a freelance. In 2016, he made the move across the Irish Sea to become
stable jockey to Ralph Beckett. The arrangement ended in in June, 2017, but Berry continues to be based
in Britain. He has ridden four Royal Ascot winners. He enjoyed a first G1 success on Pathfork in the 2010 National Stakes
and has also had Pattern race success in Japan. He was the Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” winner in 2010 at the Dubai
Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 2 (2010, 2011); Wins: 2; Points 57
10EUROPE
Adrie De Vries (The Netherlands, Captain)
Born: July 27, 1969 in the Netherlands Background: He started riding ponies from the age of eight
at his parents’ farm and his father owned racehorses. He has enjoyed success all over the world in both
Thoroughbred and Arabian racing. He rode his first winner on Go Go at Duindigt racecourse, near
Rotterdam, in 1985. Enjoyed a successful partnership with top Dutch trainer Jan Pubben during his
time in his home country, partnering over 600 winners and dominating the jockeys’ championship,
being champion 12 times. Successful in five Dutch Derbys between 1991 and 1999. Moved to Germany
after the turn of the century and rode his first Group One winner aboard the Hans-Albert Blume-trained
Gyreka in the 2005 Italian Oaks. He has enjoyed more G1 success, including on Godolphin’s
Campanologist in the 2010 Rheinland-Pokal and linked up again with that horse’s trainer Saeed bin
Suroor for a fruitful spell at the 2017 Dubai World Cup Carnival, particularly on Prize Money. He was
retained by Germany’s leading owner Gestut Schlenderhan between 2009 and 2014 and was champion jockey in the
latter year. Divides his time between Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE during the winter months where he has also done well
in Arabian racing. He has ridden worldwide, including in Japan and Hong Kong, and partnered approaching 2,000
winners. Career highlights: Champion jockey in Holland 12 times. Champion jockey in Germany in 2014. Rode the
Jens Hirschberger-trained Energizer to victory in the G3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot 2012, the first German-
trained winner at the meeting. That has been his only British victory from 17 rides here, including two stints in the Dubai
Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 2 (2014 & 2015); Wins: 0; Points: 27
Alexander Pietsch (Germany)
Born: January 6, 1972 Background: son of trainer Peter Pietsch. He grew up surrounded by horses
near Dresden but didn’t ride a racehorse until he was 14 – the former East Germany did not allow
children under that age to ride thoroughbreds. He started out as an apprentice jockey in Berlin in 1989,
riding initially for Egon Czaplewski and then Werner Bauermeister, to whom he became stable jockey.
He also rode for his father in Dresden and Uwe Stech in Berlin before moving across to the former West
Germany in 1998 to link up with Michael Trybuhl in Mulheim and then Jutta Schultheis. He spent time
in Australia between 1999 and 2000, riding for Graeme Rogerson. He was then appointed stable jockey
to Angelika Glodde before riding for Andreas Wohler for two years between 2001 and 2003. He has had
spells with Stefan Wegner, Dave Richardson, Pavel Vovcenko and Hans Blume. After almost three years
(2007-2009) with Christian Von Der Recke, he joined up with Cologne-based trainer Waldermar Hickst
in October, 2009, where he spent six seasons. Linked up with Jens Hirschberger in December, 2015. At five feet, eight
and a half inches tall, he has to constantly watch his weight to do 8st 10lb. Career highlights: Joint champion jockey
in Germany for the 2015 season with 86 wins, sharing the title with Andrasch Starke and runner-up in 2016. The
Cologne-based rider has enjoyed over 1,000 successes and partnered G2 winners in Germany, Italy and Turkey. He is
making his second appearance at Ascot, having finished 13th on Agenor in Royal Ascot’s 2016 Queen Alexandra Stakest.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut
Umberto Rispoli (Italy)
Born: The son of a jockey, Umberto Rispoli was born on August 31, 1988 in San Severino Marche in
central Italy. Background: He started riding out at age 10 and moved to Rome when he was just 13 to
gain experience at the stable of Fabrizio and Luigi Camici. After a spell furthering his education with
trainer Armando Maggi, Rispoli graduated from the apprentices' school at Pisa in 2004, and linked up
with the powerful stable of the Botti brothers, Alduino and Giuseppe. He was first jockey to Alduino's
son Stefano Botti, who took over the yard in May, 2009, after the departure of the older duo to France.
Rispoli had his first public ride when coming second on Polar Eagle at Varese on February 5, 2005 and
waited just 14 days to enjoy his first success as Peace Maker won at the same course. Career
highlights: In his first season, Rispoli was leading apprentice in Italy with 82 winners and he went on
to notch 134 victories in 2006, a total that saw him take fourth in the jockeys' championship. In
November, 2009, Rispoli broke Gianfranco Dettori's 27-year-old Italian record of 229 winners in a season, pushing the
new mark to 245 at the end of the campaign. He was also Italy's champion jockey in 2010, crowning the campaign with
a first G1 success on Aoife Alainn in the Premio Lydia Tesio in October. International career: He was granted a three-
month licence by JRA (Japan Racing Association) in January 2011, and had his first stint in Hong Kong later the same
year. He divides his time between France in the summer and Hong Kong during the winter. He missed two and a half
months of the 2016/17 campaign in Hong Kong after breaking his leg in a fall Happy Valley, but ended the season with
15 successes. He has had 61 Hong Kong winners in all. Rispoli is no stranger to British racing, having enjoyed a brief
spell in the UK in the winter of 2007/08, working for Marco Botti in Newmarket – his first and only British success
came aboard Satyricon in a Kempton Park claimer on January 18, 2008. He rode Vengeur Masque to finish fifth in the
2015 St Leger at Doncaster for French trainer Mikel Delzangles. He has had a total of 24 rides in Britain with seven
coming at Ascot, where he took part in the 2010 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 1 (2010); Wins: 0; Points: 19
11THE GIRLS
Emma-Jayne Wilson (Canada, Captain)
Born September 1, 1981, Brampton, Ontario, Canada Background: Emma-Jayne Wilson is the
winning-most female jockey of all-time in Canada (with 1,399 winners in North America as of August 7,
2017 - she has ridden in 10,435 North American races and her mounts have earned $68,490,67). She is
only one of two female Canadian jockeys to have partnered over 1,000 winners (after the legendary
Francine Villeneuve), achieving this on September 16, 2012. Wilson burst onto the North American
racing scene in 2005 when landing the riding title at Woodbine, Canada. At its 167-day meet, Wilson
partnered 175 winners from 1,096 mounts, becoming the first female to take the title in the racecourse’s
50-year history, and only the third ever apprentice to do so, following Sandy Hawley in 1969 and Mickey
Walls in 1991. She started riding at the age of nine and soon had her heart set on becoming a jockey.
Studied equine management at the University of Guelph and spent two years riding out at Woodbine
Racecourse, where she caught the eye of leading agent Mike Luider. Gained her first winner on only her second ride - a
horse called Ali Olah at Fort Erie, on August 28, 2004, and enjoyed an annus mirabilis in her first full season as an
apprentice, recording a first Stakes victory on board Classic Stamp in the Grade Two Bell Canadian Handicap to go with
her leading jockey title at Woodbine. Her achievements on the racetrack were rewarded with a Sovereign Award for
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey (with 146 wins for the year) and an Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
in North America - becoming only the second woman ever to land the apprentice Eclipse award after Rosemary
Homeister. Wilson retained her leading jockeys’ title at Woodbine in 2006 with 144 successes and received a second
Sovereign Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. Became the first female rider to win the Grade One Queen’s Plate,
part of Canada’s Triple Crown, when scoring on board Mike Fox in June, 2007. Competed in the Hong Kong
International Jockey Challenge in December, 2007, and was granted a licence to ride in the former colony the following
winter. She was out of action for nearly three months following a fall at Woodbine in August 21, 2010, when she suffered
a lacerated liver. Wilson made an impressive debut at the Breeders’ Cup in November, 2011, partnering Excaper to finish
second behind Wrote in the Grade One Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and gained another Grade One success on Interpol
in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes at Woodbine on September 13, 2015. Since 2005, she has finished in the top 100
jockeys by earnings each year in North America. Personal Life: Wilson is married to Laura Trotter, an equine
chiropractor. The couple are parents of twin daughters Avery and Grace, who were born in February, 2017. Big-Race
Wins include: Canadian Handicap (2005 Classic Stamp), Queen’s Plate (2007 Mike Fox), Nijinsky Stakes (2011
Windward Isles, 2013 So Long George), Natalma Stakes (2013 Llanarmon), Sky Classic Stakes (2015 Interpol), Northern
Dancer Turf Stakes (2015 Interpol)
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 5 (2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016); Wins: 3; Points:
105
Michelle Payne (Australia)
Born: September 29, 1985 Background: The youngest of 10 children, Payne hails from Ballarat,
Victoria. Her mother Mary died when she was six months old and she was brought up by her father
Paddy, a trainer and dairy farmer. After learning to ride on the family pony, Payne followed in the path
of seven of her siblings and became a jockey at the age of 15. Her first winner came aboard a horse
trained by her father, Reigning, at Ballarat on February 10, 2001. She is sister-in-law to fellow jockeys
Kerrin McEvoy and Brett Prebble. She started combining training, at Nottingham Farm, and riding in
August, 2016. Early success: Her breakthrough year was 2009, when she enjoyed a first G1 victory on
the Bart Cummings-trained Allez Wonder in the Toorak Handicap. Yosei, trained by Stuart Webb, was
partnered by Payne to a G1 treble in 2010, with victories in the Produce Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and
Tattersalls Tiara. She has enjoyed over 700 winners, including five G1s. Melbourne Cup: Payne
created history in 2015 when becoming the first female jockey to win Australia’s greatest race, the
Melbourne Cup, which stops the nation. Partnering 100/1 outsider Pride Of Penzance for trainer Darren Weir, the duo
defeated Irish raider Max Dynamite by half a length. She was the fourth woman to ride in the race and thanked those
who supported her before telling everyone else “Get stuffed, they think women aren’t strong enough but we just beat the
world”. These words quickly spread globally. Payne’s brother Stevie, who has Down’s syndrome, works for trainer
Darren Weir and was the strapper for Pride Of Penzance. A film of her life is currently in production, with Rachel
Griffiths taking the lead role. Rides in UK: Payne had a spell riding in the UK in 2009, winning one race from 18 rides.
She was based in Newmarket and rode primarily for trainers Jayne Chapple-Hyam and Luca Cumani. Payne made her
debut at Ascot, UK, in the 2017 G1 Queen Anne Stakes on June 20 aboard Kaspersky, finishing fifth at 66/1. She had
been due to ride in the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup but had to miss the event because of injury. She has had three
major spells out of action, at 18 when fracturing her skull, in 2012 and 2016.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut
12Hollie Doyle (England, possible substitute)
Born: October 11, 1996 Background: A graduate of the Pony Racing circuit, apprentice Hollie Doyle hails from
Hereford. Her father Mark Doyle is a former jockey while her mother Caroline rode in Arabian races, on horses bred by
Hollie’s grandmother. Hollie Doyle rode her first winner aboard The Mongoose for trainer David Evans at Salisbury on
May 5, 2013, when an amateur rider. Doyle had two more winners as an amateur and became an apprentice after
completing the appropriate course at the British Racing School in Newmarket. She is currently apprenticed to trainer
Richard Hannon. Doyle broke her collarbone in a fall at Goodwood on June 16 but is enjoying her best year to date, with
35 winners on the board so far in 2017 (her previous best total was 33 in 2016). Doyle has struck up a good partnerships
with horses owned by Henry Ponsonby syndicates, including Scarlet Dragon and First Mohican. Big-Race Wins: Old
Rowley Cup (2016 Scarlet Dragon) Other Details: Her boyfriend is fellow jockey Tom Marquand, the Stobart
Champion Apprentice of 2015. Doyle is able to ride at a low weight, the lowest in the last 12 months being 7st 9lb.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut
Hayley Turner (England)
Born: January 3, 1983, Nottingham Background: Hayley Turner, the joint champion UK apprentice
in 2005, is the most successful female jockey in British racing history. Turner was taught to ride by her
mother, a riding instructor. She started riding out for local trainer Mark Polglase, who supplied her first
winner, Generate, at Pontefract on June 4, 2000. She also attended the Northern Racing College, and
then was apprenticed to Michael Bell in Newmarket. She spent 13 years riding for Bell until a split was
announced in June, 2013. She announced her retirement from race riding in November, 2015, following
more than 760 successes in the UK and abroad, but returned to the saddle the 2016 Dubai Duty Free
Shergar Cup and has resumed race riding on occasions in 2017. Turner recently announced that she
intends to ride in France during the forthcoming winter, where she will be able to take advantage of the
2kg (4.4lbs) allowance for female jockeys. Accolades: Turner became the first woman to be crowned
Britain’s champion apprentice when partnering 44 winners during the 2005 Flat (turf) season, sharing the title with
Saleem Golam. She also became only the fourth woman in Britain to ride out her apprentice claim, following Emma
O’Gorman, Alex Greaves and Lisa Jones. Her success during the 2005 season led to Turner being awarded a Lester for
apprentice jockey of the year, the first woman ever to gain that accolade. In 2008, she became the first female jockey to
partner 100 winners in a calendar year in Britain. She was awarded an OBE in The Queen’s Birthday honours list in
June, 2016, for services to horse racing. Big-Race Wins include: Turner’s first Group One victory came in July, 2011,
aboard the David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket and she enjoyed further Group
One success when the Bell-trained Margot Did captured the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York the following month.
She is only the second woman to have ridden a Group One winner in Britain and the first to win one outright as Alex
Greaves’ success came when her mount Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff for the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes. In
2012, she enjoyed a Grade One victory on the international stage when the Simcock-trained I’m A Dreamer landed the
Beverly D Stakes at Arlington, USA. Other Details: Turner is part of the presenting team at both ITV Racing (from
2017) and At The Races (from 2016).
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 10 (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012,
2014, 2015, 2016); Wins: 5; Points: 215
13REST OF THE WORLD
Kerrin McEvoy (Australia, Captain)
Born: October 24, 1980 in South Australia. Background: grew up in Streaky Bay, a small fishing
community six hours west of Adelaide. Father Phil was a jockey, as were his uncles Peter and Tony, who
is also a successful trainer. He started out as an apprentice to his grandfather Bill Holland in March,
1997. Moved to Adelaide in 1998 where he was apprenticed to Russell Cameron before switching to
Peter Hayes’ Lindsay Park stable. In 1999, he transferred to Hayes’ Flemington operation. The following
year, at of the age of 20 and in his first season as a senior rider, McEvoy became the second youngest
jockey to win the Melbourne Cup on the Michael Moroney-trained Brew. He did well in Victoria and
earned a stint in Dubai in 2003 which was extended to six week’s at Godolphin’s request after he
finished third in the 2002 Melbourne Cup on Beekeeper. He returned to Dubai in January, 2004 and
signed on as number two jockey (behind Frankie Dettori) for Godolphin in March. He rode 44 winners
in his first season in England, headed by an excellent front-running ride on Rule Of Law in the 2004 St
Leger at Doncaster. He rode in Britain for the next four seasons before returning to Australia permanently in 2008 to
be the number one rider for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation. He went freelance in September, 2014. Married to
former jockey Cathy (Payne – sister of fellow Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup jockey Michelle) and they have four children.
Career highlights: 2003 Scobie Breasley Medal winner, which recognises excellence in race riding at Melbourne
tracks (won the 2002/03 Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership). Has gained two wins in the Melbourne Cup –
Brew (2000) and Almandin (2016). He has taken part in jockeys’ contests before, notably in Hong Kong where he won
the 2013 event, and also participated in the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, partnering one winner, a second and a
fourth. He has enjoyed three winners at Royal Ascot, headed by Shamardal’s success in the 2005 St James’s Palace
Stakes (run at York), and had a total of 322 British winners, with his best year coming in 2007 (93 wins). He gained his
50th G1 success on Turn Me Loose in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 7, 2015.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup record – Appearances: 1 (2015); Wins: 1; Points: 30
Keita Tosaki (Japan)
Born: July, 8, 1980, Japan Background: son of a civil servant, Tosaki had dreams of becoming a
professional baseball player as a schoolboy but his size led him to the National Association of Racing
(NAR) jockey school. Started riding in races in 1998 and recorded a first winner at Ohi Racecourse in
April of the same year. Dominated the NAR standings for four years between 2009 and 2012 before
switching over full-time to the more prestigious Japan Racing Association in 2013. Career
highlights: JRA champion jockey three times (2014, 2015 & 2016) and is leading the way again in
2017. NAR champion jockey four times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). Three-time recipient (2014, 2015 &
2016) of the JRA Award for Most Valuable Jockey - given to jockeys amassing the most points for
combined rankings in wins, winning average, earnings and total rides in JRA races and designated NAR
and overseas races. He finished third in both the 2015 and 2016 editions of the LONGINES
International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley, Hong Kong, and has partnered approaching 3,000 winners.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut
Anthony Delpech (South Africa)
Born: 10 February, 1969, the Seychelles Background: family relocated from the Seychelles to
Durban, South Africa when he was 12. He joined the South African jockey academy in 1984, viewing
racing as a good way of getting out of school, and became apprenticed to Joey Joseph for three years.
He spent five years riding in Hong Kong between 2003 and 2008, riding over 100 winners and enjoying
great success with South African-born trainer David Ferraris, notably with six-time G1 winner
Vengeance of Rain – Delpech has the name of the horse tattooed on his arm. Returned to South Africa
in 2008, riding primarily for Mike de Kock, until the pair parted amicably in February, 2016. He is
married to Candice and has three children. Career highlights: Has been champion jockey in South
Africa on three occasions. Won South African jockeys title for the first time in 1998/99, partnering a
record 334 winners during the season. Also champion jockey for the 2002/03 campaign and recently
captured a third title with 195 winners during the 2016/17 campaign, 43 clear of his closest pursuer Greg Cheyne. Joint
most successful jockey in South Africa’s top race, the Durban July, with four wins on Classic Flag (1998), Greys Inn
(2004), Bold Silvano (2010) and Igugu (2011). He has ridden in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Dubai but will be
making his UK debut at this year’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. He was booked to ride Smart Call in last year’s G1 Sun
Chariot Stakes at Newmarket but the horse was scratched on the day of the race after becoming lame.
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut
14DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP PREVIOUS RESULTS AT ASCOT
Year Team Results Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” Teams
winner
ROW GIRLS
Gavin Larena 30 Emma-Jayne Wilson 24
Kenichi Ikezoe 25 Hayley Turner 20
ROW 68 Silvestre De Sousa 13 Josephine Gordon 10
EUR 65
2016 Thierry Jarnet – 38 points
GIRLS 54 EUR GBI
GBI 53 Thierry Jarnet 38 Joe Fanning 22
Pierre-Charles Boudot 24 Martin Harley 21
Frankie Dettori 3 Oisin Murphy 10
GIRLS ROW
Sammy Jo Bell 35 Kerrin McEvoy 30
Emma-Jayne Wilson 23 Blake Shinn 24
GIRLS 80 Hayley Turner 22 Yutaka Take 12
GBI 67
2015 Sammy Jo Bell - 35 points
ROW 66 GBI EUR
EUR 27 Jamie Spencer 30 Olivier Peslier 13
Graham Lee 20 Vincent Cheminaud 11
Pat Smullen 17 Adrie de Vries 3
EUR GBI
Olivier Peslier 42 Tom Queally 22
Adrie de Vries 24 Jimmy Fortune 15
EUR 69 Frankie Dettori 3 Richard Hughes 15
GIRLS 68 Olivier Peslier - 42 points
2014
GBI 52 GIRLS ROW
ROW 51 Emma-Jayne Wilson 40 Craig Williams 25
Steffi Hofer 18 S’manga Khumalo 15
Hayley Turner 10 Yuichi Fukunaga 11
EUR ROW
Gerald Mosse 46 Joao Moreira 28
Ioritz Mendizabal 34 Gary Stevens 18
EUR 97 Andrasch Starke 17 Yasunari Iwata 0
GBI 61
2013 Gerald Mosse - 46 points
ROW 46 GBI GIRLS
GIRLS 40 James Doyle 31 Rosie Napravnik 15
Kieren Fallon 30 Cathy Gannon 13
Kevin Manning 0 Lisa Allpress 12
ROW GIRLS
Matthew Chadwick 45 Hayley Turner 26
Aaron Gryder 20 Chantal Sutherland 17
ROW 89 Yutaka Take 24 Emma-Jayne Wilson 11
EUR 55
2012 Matthew Chadwick - 45 points
GIRLS 54 EUR GBI
GBI 46 Cristian Demuro 25 Kieren Fallon 18
Andreas Suborics 20 James Doyle 18
Frankie Dettori 10 Johnny Murtagh 10
IRE ROW
Colm O'Donoghue 25 Hugh Bowman 25
Richard Hughes 23 Doug Whyte 17
IRE 70 Fran Berry 22 Yutaka Take 15
2011 GBR 63
Paul Hanagan – 35 points
ROW 57 GBR EUR
EUR 50 Paul Hanagan 35 Mirco Demuro 25
Jim Crowley 16 Christophe Lemaire 20
Hayley Turner 12 Olivier Peslier 5
IRE ROW
Fran Berry 35 Yasunari Iwata 15
Richard Hughes 23 Anton Marcus 15
Pat Smullen 22 Luke Nolen 15
IRE 80
EUR 72
2010 Fran Berry – 35 points EUR GBR
ROW 45
Olivier Peslier 28 Hayley Turner 21
GBR 43
Christophe Soumillon 25 Alan Munro 15
Umberto Rispoli 19 Jim Crowley 7
15Year Team Results Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” Teams
winner
IRE EUR
Richard Hughes 49 Fredrik Johansson 30
Neil Callan 29 Gerald Mosse 18
IRE 101 Seamus Heffernan 23 Andrasch Starke 4
GBR 56
2009 Richard Hughes – 49 points
EUR 52 GBR ROW
ROW 47 Hayley Turner 30 Hiroyuki Uchida 27
Alan Munro 19 Ahmed Ajtebi 10
Darryll Holland 7 Malesh Narredu 10
EUR GBR
Gerald Mosse 50 Hayley Turner 25
Mirco Demuro 26 Frankie Dettori 16
EUR 94 Halis Karatas 18 Seb Sanders 12
ROW 57
2008 Gerald Mosse – 50 points
GBR 53 ROW IRE
IRE 44 Yutaka Take 37 Richard Hughes 22
Russell Baze 20 Jamie Spencer 14
Jorge Ricardo 0 Kevin Manning 8
ROW GBR
Hugh Bowman 37 Hayley Turner 32
Yutaka Take 25 Martin Dwyer 15
ROW 86 Darren Beadman 24 Kevin Darley 11
IRE 66
2007 Hugh Bowman – 37 points
GBR 58 IRE EUR
EUR 42 Kevin Manning 28 Frankie Dettori 20
Jimmy Fortune 25 Fredrik Johansson 15
Declan McDonogh 13 Andreas Suborics 7
GBI ROW
Ryan Moore 50 Frankie Dettori 29
Seb Sanders 30 Gerald Mosse 22
GBI 158 Ryan Moore – 50 points Jamie Spencer 26 Doug Whyte 21
2006
ROW 95 Robert Winston 20 Glen Boss 13
Hayley Turner 17 Emma-Jayne Wilson 7
Mick Kinane 10 Yuichi Fukunaga 3
Not run as Ascot Racecourse was closed for redevelopment
2005
ROW GBI
Weichong Marwing 37 Mick Kinane 28
Frankie Dettori 31 Kieren Fallon 23
ROW 138 Weichong Marwing – 37 points Dario Vargiu 21 Jamie Spencer 23
2004
GBI 102 Damien Oliver 17 Kevin Darley 13
Yutaka Take 17 Johnny Murtagh 10
Gerald Mosse 15 Darryll Holland 5
ROW GBI
Doug Whyte 36 Kieren Fallon 43
Shane Dye 32 Pat Eddery 19
ROW 146 Fredrik Johansson 29 Darryll Holland 18
2003 Kieren Fallon - 43 points
GBI 98 Andreas Suborics 20 Mick Kinane 10
Yutaka Take 20 Kevin Darley 5
Frankie Dettori 5 Johnny Murtagh 3
GBI ROW
Richard Hughes 45 Hiroki Goto 27
Mick Kinane 30 David Flores 20
GBI 137 Kieren Fallon 28 Craig Williams 17
2002 Richard Hughes - 45 points
ROW 110 Pat Eddery 18 Andreas Suborics 15
Kevin Darley 10 Gerald Mosse 14
Johnny Murtagh 6 Doug Whyte 10
ROW GBI
David Flores 45 Pat Eddery 30
Mirco Demuro 30 Richard Hughes 27
ROW 125
David Flores - 45 points Gerald Mosse 18 Johnny Murtagh 25
2001 GBI 115
Mick Kinane 18 Frankie Dettori 15
Kevin Darley 10 Norihiro Yokoyama 10
Kieren Fallon 5 Craig Williams 7
EUR ROW
Mick Kinane 45 Frankie Dettori 18
Johnny Murtagh 37 Damien Oliver 15
EUR 157 Mick Kinane – 45 points Mirco Demuro 20 Jumaat Saimee 14
2000
ROW 83 Richard Quinn 20 Masayoshi Ebina 13
Kevin Darley 18 Basil Marcus 13
Pat Eddery 17 Greg Hall 10
16LEADING JOCKEYS AT THE DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP
Points Wins Appearances
Hayley Turner 215 Richard Hughes 8 Hayley Turner 10
Richard Hughes 204 Gerald Mosse 6 Frankie Dettori 10
Gerald Mosse 183 Kieren Fallon 6 Yutaka Take 7
Frankie Dettori 150 Michael Kinane 6 Gerald Mosse 7
Yutaka Take 150 Hayley Turner 5 Richard Hughes 7
Kieren Fallon 147 Yutaka Take 4 Kevin Darley 6
Michael Kinane 141 Jamie Spencer 3 Kieren Fallon 6
Emma-Jayne Wilson 105 Emma-Jayne Wilson 3 Michael Kinane 6
Mirco Demuro 101 Johnny Murtagh 6
Jamie Spencer 93 Emma-Jayne Wilson 5
DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP JOCKEY RECORDS (2000-2016)
Jockey Appearances (*Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” winner) Wins Points
Ahmed Ajtebi 1 (2009) 0 10
Lisa Allpress 1 (2013) 0 12
Russell Baze 1 (2008) 0 20
Darren Beadman 1 (2007) 0 24
Sammy Jo Bell 1 (2015*) 2 35
Fran Berry 2 (2010*, 2011) 2 57
Glen Boss 1 (2006) 0 13
Pierre-Charles Boudot 1 (2016) 0 24
Hugh Bowman 2 (2007*, 2011) 2 62
Neil Callan 1 (2009) 1 29
Matthew Chadwick 1 (2012*) 1 45
Vincent Cheminaud 1 (2015) 0 11
Jim Crowley 2 (2010, 2011) 0 23
Kevin Darley 6 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007) 0 67
Silvestre De Sousa 1 (2016) 0 13
Cristian Demuro 1 (2012) 1 25
Mirco Demuro 4 (2000, 2001, 2008, 2011) 2 101
Frankie Dettori 10 (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016) 2 150
James Doyle 2 (2012, 2013) 2 49
Martin Dwyer 1 (2007) 0 15
Shane Dye 1 (2003) 1 32
Masayoshi Ebina 1 (2000) 0 13
Pat Eddery 4 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003) 2 84
Kieren Fallon 6 (2001, 2002, 2003*, 2004, 2012, 2013) 6 147
Joe Fanning 1 (2016) 0 22
David Flores 2 (2001*, 2002) 2 65
Jimmy Fortune 2 (2007, 2014) 1 40
Yuichi Fukunaga 2 (2006, 2014) 0 14
Cathy Gannon 1 (2013) 0 13
Josephine Gordon 1 (2016) 0 10
Hiroki Goto 1 (2002) 0 27
Aaron Gryder 1 (2012) 1 20
Greg Hall 1 (2000) 0 10
Paul Hanagan 1 (2011*) 1 35
Martin Harley 1 (2016) 1 21
Seamus Heffernan 1 (2009) 0 23
Steffi Hofer 1 (2014) 0 18
Darryll Holland 3 (2003, 2004, 2009) 0 30
Richard Hughes 7 (2001, 2002*, 2008, 2009*, 2010, 2011, 2014) 8 204
Kenichi Ikezoe 1 (2016) 0 25
Yasunari Iwata 2 (2010, 2013) 0 15
Thierry Jarnet 1 (2016*) 2 38
Fredrik Johansson 3 (2003, 2007, 2009) 2 74
Halis Karatas 1 (2008) 0 18
S'manga Khumalo 1 (2014) 0 15
17Jockey Appearances (*Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” winner) Wins Points
Michael Kinane 6 (2000*, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006) 6 141
Graham Lee 1 (2015) 0 20
Christophe Lemaire 1 (2011) 0 20
Gavin Lerena 1 (2016) 2 30
Kevin Manning 3 (2007, 2008, 2013) 1 36
Anton Marcus 1 (2010) 0 15
Basil Marcus 1 (2000) 0 13
Weichong Marwing 1 (2004*) 1 37
Declan McDonogh 1 (2007) 0 13
Kerrin McEvoy 1 (2015) 1 30
Ioritz Mendizabal 1 (2013) 1 34
Ryan Moore 1 (2006*) 2 50
Joao Moreira 1 (2013) 1 28
Gerald Mosse 7 (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008*, 2009, 2013*) 6 183
Alan Munro 2 (2009, 2010) 1 34
Oisin Murphy 1 (2016) 0 10
Johnny Murtagh 6 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2012) 1 91
Rosie Napravnik 1 (2013) 0 15
Malesh Narredu 1 (2009) 0 10
Luke Nolen 1 (2010) 1 15
Colm O'Donoghue 1 (2011) 1 25
Damian Oliver 2 (2000, 2004) 1 32
Olivier Peslier 4 (2010, 2011, 2014*, 2015) 2 88
Tom Queally 1 (2014) 1 22
Richard Quinn 1 (2000) 1 20
Jorge Ricardo 1 (2008) 0 0
Umberto Rispoli 1 (2010) 0 19
Jumaat Saimee 1 (2000) 0 14
Seb Sanders 2 (2006, 2008) 2 42
Blake Shinn 1 (2015) 0 24
Pat Smullen 2 (2010, 2015) 0 39
Christophe Soumillon 1 (2010) 1 25
Jamie Spencer 4 (2004, 2006, 2008, 2015) 3 93
Andrasch Starke 2 (2009, 2013) 0 21
Gary Stevens 1 (2013) 1 18
Andreas Suborics 4 (2002, 2003, 2007, 2012) 1 62
Chantal Sutherland 1 (2012) 0 17
Yutaka Take 7 (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015) 4 150
Hayley Turner 10 (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016) 5 215
Hiroyuki Uchida 1 (2009) 0 27
Dario Vargiu 1 (2004) 0 21
Adrie de Vries 2 (2014, 2015) 0 27
Doug Whyte 4 (2002, 2003, 2006, 2011) 2 84
Craig Williams 3 (2001, 2002, 2014) 1 49
Emma-Jayne Wilson 5 (2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016) 3 105
Robert Winston 1 (2006) 1 20
Norihiro Yokoyama 1 (2001) 0 10
RECORD OF TEAMS IN THE DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP
2012 – 2016 (Teams – Europe, Girls, Great Britain & Ireland, Rest of the World)
2 wins – Europe (2013, 2014), Rest of the World (2012, 2016)
1 win – Girls (2015)
2007 – 2011 (Teams – Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Rest of the World)
3 wins – Ireland (2009, 2010, 2011)
1 win – Europe (2008), Rest of the World (2007)
2001-2006 (Teams – Great Britain & Ireland, Rest of the World)
3 wins – Rest of the World (2001, 2003 & 2004)
2 wins – Great Britain & Ireland (2002, 2006)
2000 (Teams – Europe, Rest of the World)
1 win – Europe (2000)
18REMEMBERING SHERGAR
Shergar’s name is etched in racing folklore as much for his headline-grabbing demise as for his
exceptional performances on the racecourse, the most scintillating of those being his record-
breaking victory in the 1981 Derby.
Famously kidnapped by the IRA following his retirement to stud in Ireland, the Aga Khan’s colt was
one of the finest Derby winners of the 20th century and without argument the best racehorse of his
generation with a lofty Timeform rating of 140.
Trained by Michael Stoute in Newmarket, Shergar won impressively on his first start as a two-year-
old before finishing second to the more experienced Beldale Flutter on his only other outing in what
is now the Racing Post Trophy.
Having been rated 31st among his peers in the 1980 European Free Handicap, Shergar commenced
his Classic season as a 33/1 ante-post chance for the Derby. Those odds tumbled after a 10-length
victory in Sandown’s Classic Trial was followed by a 12-length demolition in the Chester Vase.
Shergar lined up as the 10/11 favourite for Derby glory at Epsom Downs. He did not disappoint his
supporters as he once again accelerated away from rivals to register a stunning 10-length success -
the widest winning margin in the long history of the premier Classic.
With the Epsom Classic in the bag, Shergar went to the Curragh and added the Irish Derby by four
lengths before routing his elders by the same distance in Britain’s premier all-age middle-distance
contest, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
The stage was set for an autumn hurrah in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp but in an
unexpected twist, connections decided to take in the St Leger at Doncaster. The extended mile and
three quarters of the world’s oldest Classic proved beyond Shergar’s stamina reserves and he could
finish no better than fourth.
That defeat was to be Shergar’s final race. Valued at £10 million, the colt retired to the Aga Khan’s
Ballymany Stud in Ireland but on February 8, 1983, hooded gunmen seized the stallion. A £2 million
ransom was demanded and refused. Shergar’s fate remains a mystery.
19DUBAI DUTY FREE SHERGAR CUP TITLE SPONSOR
AN UNRIVALLED AIRPORT RETAILER
Founded on 20th December 1983, Dubai Duty Free recorded first-year sales of US$20 million and has grown
into one of the biggest travel retail operators in the world with sales turnover of US$1.85 billion in 2016. Now
employing over 5,900 people, the operation has consistently raised the benchmark for airport retailing as it
continues to grow. In 2016, Dubai Duty Free recorded an impressive 27.119 million sales transactions, which
is an average of 74,097 sales transactions per day across both Dubai International and Al Maktoum
International airport.
Perfumes continue to be the highest selling category with annual sales topping US$306.85 million, which
represents 16.55% of total annual sales. Liquor follows with sales of US$295.40 million, while Cigarettes and
Tobacco are in third place with sales of US$160.70 million. Cosmetics are in fourth place with sales
amounting to US$148.80 million followed by Confectionery with US$143.75 million.
Dubai Duty Free currently operates over 35,000 sqm of retail space at Dubai International Airport and 2,500
sqm at Al Maktoum International, which will grow in line with the massive development plans of Dubai
South. In addition to the retail division, Dubai Duty Free operates the Leisure Division which includes The
Irish Village in Garhoud and at Riverland, The Century Village, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, home to
the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and The Jumeirah Creekside Hotel.
To date, Dubai Duty Free has received more than 550 industry awards and in 2016 alone the operation was
presented with 28 awards including the DFNI Global Awards for Global Travel Retailer of the Year” and
“Airport Travel Retailer of the Year. Dubai Duty Free’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin,
also received several awards including the “Retail CEO of the Year” from CEO Middle East Awards, the Gulf
Business Industry Award for “Business Leader of the Year – Retail and the MENAA Awards for “Best Business
Leader in Retail” for the second consecutive year in December.
In October 2004, DDF launched the Dubai Duty Free Foundation, a charitable body founded under the
auspices of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority
and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, to organise its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and, most
importantly, raise funds for worthy causes, specifically those aimed at benefiting children. The Foundation
has since donated funds to several charities, both at home and abroad, and plays an active role in helping
families and children in need.
As well as the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, its growing sports sponsorship portfolio features the Dubai Duty
Free Irish Open, hosted by The Rory Foundation and held this year at Portstewart Golf Club, Dubai Duty Free
Irish Derby at The Curragh and the Spring Trials and International Weekend meetings at Newbury
racecourse. On the domestic front, the company owns and manages the Dubai Duty Free Tennis
Championships, the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters and supports a variety of other sporting attractions,
including the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup.
Commenting on his company's sponsorship of the Shergar Cup, Dubai Duty Free's Executive Vice Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, Colm McLoughlin, said, “We are delighted to have been involved with this event
since its inception and along with Ascot are proud to have played a part in its development and watched it
grow into the popular sell-out event it is today.
“A great family day out, its appeal stretches beyond the sport, crossing age and social boundaries, and has
been enormously successful in introducing many new faces to racing over almost two decades.”
20THE ALISTAIR HAGGIS SILVER SADDLE
Alistair Haggis
by close friend and colleague, Mike Vince, who is commentating on Saturday’s racing
If I came down from the commentary gantry at the end of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and
wanted to speak to Alistair (above left with Ascot’s Nick Smith), I knew exactly where to look - he’d be
watching the Closing Ceremony in the quietest corner he could find, well away from the spotlight. That was
Alistair. A man who would, and often did work morning, noon and night to make sure a project was successful,
and then be positively the last person to step forward and accept the acclaim that was rightly due.
Alistair loved racing, loved racing people and loved Ascot Racecourse. He had some of the finest PR
skills I have ever come across in anyone I have dealt with in any sport, and his tireless work, latterly with
colleagues at the International Racing Bureau, with trainers and jockeys is quite simply a cornerstone of why
the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has become what it is today.
It became tradition for there to be a production meeting in the days ahead of the Dubai Duty Free
Shergar Cup, in “Studio 6” we used to call it (though in reality a local restaurant), where we would talk through
plans for the day. The rest of us would then head home but for Alistair it was straight back to work. I still have
some of the 3am emails he sent with answers to any issues.
When the QIPCO British Champion Series started, it came as no surprise to hear Alistair was on the
team as PR Manager. Rod Street, the CEO of that organisation, knew his work was peerless and that he held
the respect of the media. Quite simply, the hand of Haggis was always the seal of success.
Devoted to his beloved Arsenal, Ali thrilled us all when marriage to Nim led to the arrival of son Alfie,
on whom he doted. That such happiness should have been followed after such a short time by the cruelty of
his illness and inevitable passing from Motor Neurone Disease in 2014 has been hard for his friends and
family to bear.
Being able to say you were a friend of Alistair Haggis will always be something to cherish, and I’ll
admit before my day’s work in the commentary box is done on Saturday afternoon, my eyes will go skywards.
It was an appropriate gesture by Ascot and Dubai Duty Free to have the Silver Saddle named in
Alistair’s honour in 2015, and it is wonderful we can welcome his family to the place he called ‘home’ for so
many happy years to present the trophy.
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