Ryan Moore returned to the Shergar Cup after a two‑decade hiatus and instantly made his presence felt, delivering a double triumph that helped the Great Britain and Ireland side clinch the overall team title while also earning him the prestigious Silver Saddle as the event's top rider across all six races. Moore, who had previously secured the Silver Saddle during his final appearance at the team‑based meeting back in 2006, has spent the intervening years primarily riding on Group One cards in Ireland, making his comeback both surprising and eagerly anticipated by fans. When the meeting was postponed by 24 hours, Moore found himself free to travel to Ascot, and he did not disappoint the crowd.
Team Great Britain and Ireland amassed a winning total of 81 points, comfortably ahead of Team Hong Kong, which finished second with 62 points. Moore’s personal tally of 47 points was more than enough to secure the individual accolade, reaffirming his status as one of the sport’s most consistent performers. Moore’s first win came aboard Dylan Cunha’s Asgard’s Captain, a 13‑to‑2 outsider that displayed tenacity throughout the race.
The horse held his ground and surged ahead to win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge by a length and a quarter, edging out Yutake Take on Sportingsilvermine, who was representing the Rest of the World. After the race, Moore praised the horse’s straightforward nature, saying, "Dylan did say he could be a little bit lazy, but he has an uncomplicated attitude and to just help him through it and it was straightforward, really. It’s great to get Dylan a winner here today and the owners will be delighted as they were all looking forward to it, so it’s a good job the horse has performed today." The competition also featured a host of other notable riders and horses. In the penultimate Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic, Moore rode Marco Botti’s Archers Bay (5‑2) to a textbook victory, finishing three and a quarter lengths clear of Christophe Lemaire on King Of Berkshire for Team Europe.
Having previously contested the Italian Derby earlier in the season, Archers Bay demonstrated class and composure, confirming Moore’s reputation for extracting the maximum from high‑calibre mounts. The final race of the meeting, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile, saw Moore finish third on Ozat, behind Crown Board (10‑1) ridden by Frida Valle Skar. Although Team Europe was no longer in contention for the overall trophy at that stage, Moore’s performance added valuable points to the team’s aggregate. Among the rising stars, Saffie Osborne shone in the team environment, delivering a win on Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger (2‑1 favourite) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint.
Osborne, who has been the leading rider in the Racing League on three occasions, captained a squad that included Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle for Great Britain and Ireland. She reflected on her ride, stating, "I heard a few people knocking this horse today but I thought the track would really suit and it has.
I’m just glad I pulled my finger out. Looking at the standard of jockeys here today, it’s amazing – look at our team with Ryan Moore and Ireland’s champion jockey.
The win for me today is that I made Ryan laugh a couple of times, so I’m quite happy with that!" Team Hong Kong, making its Shergar Cup debut, set an early tempo by winning the first two races. Young jockey Jerry Chau gave the team a perfect start aboard Tuco Salamanca, delivering a clear‑cut victory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash.
Chau, 26, partnered Ollie Sangster’s four‑year‑old, taking a commanding lead into the final furlong before pulling away. Tuco Salamanca (4‑1) accelerated impressively to beat Gold Star Hero, ridden by Chau’s teammate Vincent Ho, by a length and a half, while Fandom and Suraj Narredu secured third for the Rest of the World. Chau later told Sky Sports Racing, "It felt amazing when I hit the line. No words can describe riding a winner at Ascot.
I grew up watching Ryan Moore on YouTube. I watched him as much as I could." Luke Ferraris also contributed to Hong Kong’s early dominance.
After the opening race’s one‑two finish for his teammates, Ferraris rode the Ian Williams‑trained 17‑2 outsider Dancing In Paris to win the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers. He produced a late surge to catch Moore’s mount, Shrimp Shady, trained by Andrew Balding, winning by a length. Ferraris commented, "That’s phenomenal, he’s a lot fitter than me! He was turned out in great order.
He didn’t settle as good as he should have, but he still produced a great turn of foot. I think I’ve only ridden in one two‑mile race in recent years, so it was a bit of a change.
We’ve a good group of young riders representing Hong Kong, so let’s hope it continues." Overall, the Shergar Cup at Ascot proved to be a thrilling showcase of international talent, with Moore’s comeback story providing a narrative backbone to the event. His ability to deliver under pressure, combined with the contributions of emerging jockeys like Osborne, Chau, and Ferraris, highlighted the depth of skill across the participating nations. The competition not only crowned a victorious team but also reinforced the Shergar Cup’s reputation as a premier gathering of the world’s finest riders and horses, delivering memorable moments for spectators both at the track and watching live on Sky Sports Racing.