Team Asia Clinches Shergar Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

New to the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, Team Asia edged out Team Europe by one point at Ascot on Saturday. The point totals stood at 68 (Asia), 67 (Europe), Great Britain & Ireland accrued 62 and the Rest of the World was fourth at 55 points.

Team Asia posted victories with Suraj Narredu guiding Fireblade (Frankel) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers, and Ryusei Sakai was aboard Prince Of India (Wootton Bassett) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint. Mirai Iwata was also part of Team Asia.

Narredu, captain of Team Asia, said, “I am absolutely delighted. After my winner, to win the Shergar Cup on my debut is the icing on the cake. The Asian team deserves to get recognition and I am proud to captain the team. It was fabulous for us to get two winners and some place points from the six races. We all enjoyed ourselves and it is a big deal to have come. It will be big back home in India.

“I am staying in Britain for three more weeks to ride out for a few trainers, primarily Marco Botti, before I head home. It is a very short time, but I hope I can pick up a few rides.”

The Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle went to Team Rest of the World's team captain Hugh Bowman, who earned 32 points. Bowman rode Vintage Clarets (Ardad) to win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. Europe's Per-Anders Graberg was second on 26 points, with Asia's Ryusei Sakai and Robbie Dolan both picking up 25 points.

Bowman, who was winning the award for the second time since his Shergar Cup debut in 2007, said, “I am delighted. It is great to be here, the Shergar Cup is a unique event. Riding on this track is something that all jockeys around the world aspire to do. I have had the privilege of doing it previously and to come back and win a race – I thought I might have been in with a squeak of winning a couple, but nevertheless we have come out with a major prize.

“It has been a lovely afternoon and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. My family is here and they have enjoyed it, too. All the teams won a race and I think everyone has had as much fun as I have – the spoils were shared, which is good. Many congratulations to team Asia, they were racking up points in every race, so credit where it is due.”

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