Shergar Cup Sat.

Newcomers relishing Shergar Cup challenge

THE three jockeys representing the Rest of the World team at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will race in Britain for the first time at Ascot on Saturday but were confident they would be able to cope with the new test Ascot would offer.

Australia's Luke Nolen, Anton Marcus of South Africa and the Japanese jockey Yasunari Iwata are the three who have been charged with regaining the Shergar Cup for the Rest of the World team, which last won the title in 2007.

Nolen, who has won six Group 1 races in his native country this season, said: "I know Ascot; I know it's steeped in history and I'm very hopeful I'll take it with both hands and shake the hell out of it."

The Australian star will ride Set The Trend - second in the Investec Mile at Epsom's Derby meeting - in the Shergar Cup Mile, and is confident that he can adjust to Ascot's undulating surface, which could provide a sterner test than the courses he is used to at home.

"It's going to be a transition," he said. "I walked it on Wednesday and the lateral TV shots don't really do it justice. It will be an adjustment, but I'm confident I'll be able to do it."

The card

www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/meeting...=2&r_date=2010-08-07

Lady Eclair and Caper Cailie look the best of his mounts...

One of the quietest days of the year turnover wise

BBC have dumped it this year,wont be shown on Tv

I hope we get to see it in its entirety. One never knows how these broadcast schedules from overseas are drawn up, or when, i.e. before or after Marcus was invited to participate.

Yes will be great to watch but not to punt.

Looks tough today at Ascot, for some interest I 'm going to take a double
R2 - Christopher Wren
R4 - Lady Eclair

Anton`s mount Strategic Mount has won at this meeting the last 2 seasons

What about the colours?

Hayley looks a top jock now..

Plus she is better looking than Anton

Ireland retain Shergar Cup and Silver Saddle

IRELAND retained both the team title and silver saddle after a thrilling conclusion to the Shergar Cup.

Holding a five point lead in the teamcompetition before the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint, the lead was eradicated as Olivier Peslier won on Gramercy for Europe.

However, second went to Gene Autry, which also gave Fran Berry the silver saddle, with Star Rover [fourth] and Bella Swan [fifth] cementing the overall title.

Luke Nolen, who had earlier won the Mile on Set The Trend, took third in the Sprint on Capercaillie, which gave the Rest Of The World third place, with hosts Great Britain trailingin last.

Berry's second place finish gave him the silver saddle on 35 points as he finished a fantastic second half of the meeting. Without a point from the first three races, the jockey recorded a win on Bernie The Bolt and two second place finishes to take the title.


A delighted Berry said: "It's a dream come true. It's was a late call up on Tuesday and I was just happy to be here. I was lucky to get a good draw and have great trainers and the races went well. I'm probably the happiest man ever to be second in the last!"

Peslier finished second with 28, while Christophe Soumillon was third on 25.

The public were once again out in force for the event, with an attendance figure of 28,741 up 3.5 percent compared to last year's crowd.

Shergar Cup final standings

Team:

Ireland 80

Europe -67

ROW - 45

GB -43



Silver Saddle (top five points scorers only):

Fran Berry - 35 points

Olivier Peslier 28

Christophe Soumillon - 25

Richard Hughes - 23

Hayley Turner - 21

Push to return Shergar Cup to terrestrial TV

RESTORING the Shergar Cup to terrestrial television is the prime target for promoters of the international jockeys' team challenge, which drew nearly 29,000 paying customers to Ascot on Saturday but was dropped from the BBC schedule for the first time.

Ascot chief executive Charles Barnett said on Sunday: "I was very, very pleased with the crowd figure of 28,741, which compared with 27,779 last year. But the lack of terrestrial television is disappointing."

Saturday's meeting received blanket coverage on satellite channel At The Races, being its only available British afternoon fixture, but became a victim of cuts imposed under new contracts negotiated by the BBC this year.

While the team representing Ireland was retaining the Shergar Cup title, Clare Balding, who previously anchored BBC coverage of all six races, was fronting the rugby league Challenge Cup semi-final between Leeds and St Helens.

Barnett added: "The Shergar Cup is the kind of event that merits terrestrial coverage, both for the sport and public enjoyment. We're working to ensure it gets it next year."

Although Ascot will assess whether BBC bosses could be persuaded to change their minds, Channel 4 is the more likely target.

Ascot's TV objective has the backing of event sponsor Dubai Duty Free, whose managing director Colm McLoughlin said: "It's naturally a better occasion for us if there is terrestrial television coverage. I hope things get resolved."

However, McLoughlin ruled out any prospect that Dubai Duty Free, which completed the second year of a five-year contract with Ascot on Saturday, would reduce its commitment.