Top jockeys from Britain and Ireland go head to head with the Rest of the World at Ascot
Shergar and Sakhee, two of the biggest names in racing, share the limelight on Saturday. The international jockeys’ team competition at Ascot, the Shergar Cup, is named in memory of the 1981 Derby winner who was kidnapped by the IRA.
Sakhee, rated the best horse on earth last year, makes his eagerly awaited reappearance at Deauville after a four-month absence with ambitions to maintain his position as number one in the world.
After Deauville Sakhee heads for the Irish Champion Stakes and then attempts to follow up last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory and join the elite band of dual Arc heroes.
At Ascot Mick Kinane, riding for the Great Britain and Ireland team against the Rest of the World, is the jockey to follow. He should win on the speedy Feet So Fast and the stayer Caqui D’Or.
Feet So Fast, the ante post favourite who was withdrawn from last week’s Stewards’ Cup on account of the fast Goodwood going, will be fancied to show his true mettle in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint. The Ascot ground is heavy in places which will be ideal for Feet So Fast.
After being well backed to win at Lingfield and again at Newmarket’s July meeting, Feet So Fast looked a high class sprinter in the making. This is his chance to fulfil that promise.
Caqui D’Or, from the John Dunlop stable, has not run badly this season and is worth a chance at remunerative odds. He won in the prevailing heavy conditions at Haydock last September.
Ascot Stakes winner Riyadh, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by South African Doug Whyte is the main danger.
Kieren Fallon (pictured) captains the Great Britain and Ireland team and should be on the mark with Tout Seul in the British Red Cross Shergar Cup. Tout Seul showed a liking for soft ground when he won his two races at Chepstow.
Aussie Craig Williams, representing the Rest of the World, partners the mud-loving Lady Links in the Porthault Shergar Cup. Lady Links won twice onheavy ground at Lingfield and Saint-Cloud last year and will appreciate dropping back to six furlongs here.
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