The Group 3 duo of the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes from Haydock and the Sweet Solera Stakes from Newmarket top the bill in terms of class this Saturday. However, much of the attention centres on the six-race handicap card at Ascot.
Of course, Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Day is no ordinary handicap meeting, but rather one of the most distinctive racing events of the season. In a sport dominated by individual glory, this team-based competition brings a breath of fresh air to the summer racing scene. First held at Goodwood in 1999 and at Ascot ever since, the Shergar Cup undergoes a slight shake-up in 2025 but remains one of the most popular Ascot fixtures with punters.
How It Works
Four teams of three jockeys, representing Great Britain and Ireland, Asia, Europe, and the Rest Of The World, compete for Shergar Cup glory. The riders face off in the following six handicap events:
| Time | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 1:35 | Shergar Cup Dash | 5f |
| 2:10 | Shergar Cup Stayers | 2m |
| 2:45 | Shergar Cup Challenge | 1m4f |
| 3:20 | Shergar Cup Sprint | 6f |
| 3:55 | Shergar Cup Classic | 1m4f |
| 4:30 | Shergar Cup Mile | 1m |
Each race is restricted to a maximum of 10 runners, meaning all teams will have either two or three riders in each race. By the end of the card, each team will have fielded 15 horses, with each jockey riding five times.
Points make prizes in the Shergar Cup and are awarded according to finishing positions as follows:
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | 15 Points |
| 2nd Place | 10 Points |
| 3rd Place | 7 Points |
| 4th Place | 5 Points |
| 5th Place | 3 Points |
The team that racks up the most points across the six races earns bragging rights over their international rivals and claims the Shergar Cup Trophy. The leading individual rider receives the Alastair Haggis Silver Saddle and £3,000.
Meet the Teams
This year sees a slight change in the make-up of the teams, with the Ladies Team making way for the newly formed Asia Team. While some may miss the battle of the sexes element, female jockeys feature in three of the four teams, with Hollie Doyle captaining the Great Britain and Ireland side. So, who are the riders on show in Berkshire this year?
Europe
- Per-Anders Graberg (C) – Hailing from Sweden, Graberg boasts over 2,000 wins worldwide, including 18 Group class triumphs. He returns to the global stage almost a year after suffering a career-threatening double pelvic fracture on the gallops. Graberg registered a win on his only previous Shergar Cup appearance in 2018
- Dario Di Tocco – The reigning Italian Champion Jockey makes his Shergar Cup debut. Bursting onto the scene in 2019, his biggest win came in the 2023 edition of the Italian Derby
- Delphine Santiago – The most successful female rider in French racing history, Santiago arrives with over 700 career wins on her CV
Asia
- Suraj Narredu (C) – Suraj follows in the footsteps of his uncle Malesh Narredu, who represented the Rest of the World team at the 2009 Shergar Cup. Reaching 1,000 career wins by the age of 25, Suraj has now moved past the 2400 mark
- Mirai Iwata – Son of the 2006 Melbourne Cup-winning rider Yasunari Iwata, Mirai is now based at the Newmarket yard of William Haggas. Iwata’s biggest win to date came in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies at Kyoto
- Ryusei Sakai – A star on the international stage, Sakai has 14 Group/Grade 1 wins – the most famous of which came when partnering Forever Young to glory and £8,000,000 in prize money in the 2025 Saudi Cup
Rest Of The World
- Karis Teeta (C) – Born in Mauritius and South Africa’s Champion Apprentice Jockey in 2008, Teeta now plies his trade in Hong Kong. Having partnered superstars such as Romantic Warrior and Able Friend, the 35-year-old is no stranger to the big stage
- Hugh Bowman – Whatever he achieves in the rest of his career, Australian rider Bowman will be forever associated with the 25-time Group 1 winning wonder mare Winx. Bowman won the Silver Saddle at the 2007 Shergar Cup
- Katie Davis – Representing the USA, Katie Davis is part of a famous racing family, with husband Trevor McCarthy and brother Dylan Davis also following a career in the saddle
Great Britain and Ireland
- Hollie Doyle (C) – Britain’s greatest ever female jockey, and one of the most talented riders in the sport – male or female. Doyle became the first British woman to win a Classic in the 2022 Prix de Diane and has now recorded over 1,000 wins
- Robbie Dolan – Born in Ireland, Dolan began his career in Britain in 2015 but relocated to Australia in 2016. Robbie etched his name into Aussie racing folklore when springing a 90/1 shock aboard Knight’s Choice in the 2024 Melbourne Cup
- Joanna Mason – A hugely popular member of the weighing room, Mason turned professional in 2020 following 14 years as an amateur. Mason has ridden over 250 winners and was part of the winning Ladies Team at the 2024 Shergar Cup
With all teams wearing team colours rather than owners’ silks, and a spirit of friendly rivalry throughout the six-race card, the Shergar Cup provides one of the most unique spectacles of the racing year.