The Girls workforce retained their Dubai Obligation Free Shergar Cup title after securing a one-two within the ultimate race of an exciting competitors at Ascot.
Hayley Turner cemented her place because the undisputed queen of the Shergar Cup as she led her Girls workforce to a 3rd success in 5 years at Ascot – additionally touchdown her third Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle award for prime rider.
Making her seventeenth look on the distinctive occasion, Turner edged out her team-mate Joanna Mason within the ultimate race, with New Picture (100/30 favorite) beating Yantarni within the Mile to safe the title by 11 factors from Europe (71-60).
That last-gasp success drew Turner stage with South African Rachel Venniker on 35 factors for the main jockey crown, however she took the No 1 spot total on countback.
“Alistair Haggis was actually the reason the girls started on the Shergar Cup teams. When I started there were two teams and Alistair suggested that each team had a girl, so Emma-Jayne (Wilson) represented the Rest of the World and I represented Great Britain and Ireland and since then it has just snowballed,” mentioned Turner.
“It is nice. Clearly Alistair shouldn’t be with us now, however he performed a key half in all of the Shergar Cup victories I’ve had.
Hayley Turner (L) celebrates the Girls workforce’s victory with Joanna Mason (C) and Marie Velon
“I think it helps that the trainers don’t get to choose if I ride their horses or not, I do end up with better rides than what I’d usually get and it just goes to show it’s the animals that get you there and not just the jockeys. All my family are up here, there will be a big celebration tonight.”
Turner had earlier executed an ideal front-running journey on Andrew Balding’s Ranch Hand (13/2) who was headed shut dwelling by Beamish and Seamie Heffernan within the Stayers race earlier than battling again to win by a head.
Turner mentioned: “The horse is very tough to be fair. It was quite nice for the Kingsclere Racing Club, as I had a winner for them here last week as well and they are always out in force – they are going to have a good afternoon now.”
Whereas the Girls trio of Turner, Mason and French Group One-winning jockey Marie Velon took the workforce prize, they had been removed from the one feminine riders in motion, with the break up of jockeys 50-50 for the primary time.
Venniker declares herself on British soil
Rachel Venniker made the right begin for her Remainder of the World workforce with a classy victory on Holkham Bay within the opener at Ascot.
Venniker rides as secure jockey in her native South Africa for former UK champion Michael ‘Muis’ Roberts and holds the excellence of being the one skilled feminine rider at dwelling.
She confirmed loads of panache within the saddle, biding her time on William Knight’s four-year-old, who was a well-backed 4/1 favorite.
Holkham Bay hacks up for Rachel Venniker
Kylian seemed to be travelling strongly simply over a furlong out, however when Venniker pressed the button the race was over, streaking two and three-quarter lengths clear to say 15 factors.
Kylian was second for Billy Loughnane forward of Dream Composer and Tadhg O’Shea, each representing Nice Britain and Eire.
Venniker mentioned: “He ran his heart out. Everything worked out perfectly. As soon as I asked him the question he changed legs and I thought ‘they’ll never catch me now’.
“I am so proud I’ve gained a race right here. What a exceptional feeling. It is so unbelievable to have everybody, I am over the moon. Make South Africa proud and make the boss proud.”
Knight added of the winner: “The owner here keeps telling me we should go for the Portland [at Doncaster] next – he’s been telling me that for three months – and it might be a good option for him. I think he likes those flat tracks. I think he’s one of those improving sprinters, hopefully.”
Rachel King teamed up along with her former boss Alan King to win the Dubai Obligation Free Shergar Cup Problem on Madness, giving the Remainder of the World a second winner.
King – who’s now primarily based in Australia – had loads of horse beneath her when the 9/2 shot cruised into the lead, however he was all out to beat Dream Tougher (Europe) by a head.
“It’s a huge honour to be here and to get a ride for Alan was very special and to get a winner is even better,” mentioned Rachel King.
The coach defined how the pair return an terrible good distance.
Madness heads for dwelling
“I love it when a plan comes together! I haven’t been a huge supporter of the Shergar Cup in the past, but I thought it was the ideal race, and to draw Rachel on Thursday was terrific,” Alan King mentioned.
“I think her last ride for me was 16 years ago in a ladies’ hurdle race at Ludlow. She was third, but what I remember is that I couldn’t carry the weight cloth out! She had 11st 5lb or something, and there’s nothing of her. But it’s lovely. It’s great to see her – I haven’t seen her for a long time. We had a good catch up at Olly Murphy’s wedding yesterday.”
Going Distant secured Europe’s winner
Loughnane is barely 18, and he confirmed his undoubted class as a star of the longer term when profitable on Owen Burrows’ Jarraaf (5/6 favorite) within the Dash.
“It’s a lovely thing to be a part of. Hayley has been doing it a long time; I’m only 18 and she’s been doing it 17 years, it’s her gig as she says, but I’m going to try to take it off her!” he mentioned.
“I’m very lucky. I’m in a lovely position with the trainers and owners I ride for and it’s great to be a part of it.”
Going Distant (12/1) was a sole winner for Europe beneath Bauyrzhan Murzabayev within the Traditional.
