Ryan Moore returned to the Shergar Cup after a two‑decade hiatus and played a pivotal role in guiding the Great Britain and Ireland squad to triumph in the team competition, while also securing the individual Silver Saddle award for the best rider across the six races. Moore first made his mark in the event back in 2006, when he captured the Silver Saddle on his final appearance.
Since then his commitments have largely been tied to Group One rides in Ireland, meaning he has not been a regular feature at the team‑based meeting. However, when the schedule was reshuffled and the meeting was moved forward by 24 hours, Moore found himself free to travel to Ascot, much to the delight of the crowd. The Great Britain and Ireland side finished atop the leaderboard with 81 points, comfortably ahead of Team Hong Kong, which managed 62 points. Moore’s personal tally of 47 points was enough to earn him the coveted Silver Saddle, underscoring his dominance throughout the meeting.
His first win came aboard Dylan Cunha’s Asgard’s Captain, a 13‑to‑2 outsider who held his nerve and edged out Yutake Take on Sportingsilvermine for the Rest of the World by a length and a quarter in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge. After the race Moore praised the horse’s straightforward attitude, saying, “Dylan mentioned he can be a little lazy, but he’s uncomplicated and it was easy to get him through. It feels great to give Dylan a win today – the owners will be thrilled, and the horse performed beautifully.” In the penultimate race, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic, Moore rode Marco Botti’s Archers Bay (5‑2) to a textbook performance, pulling away to finish 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, Moore displayed the class and composure expected of a rider of his stature. The final race of the meeting, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile, saw Moore finish third aboard Ozat, behind Crown Board (10‑1) ridden by Frida Valle Skar. By that stage Team Europe was no longer in contention for the overall title, but Moore’s consistent placings helped cement his individual victory. The event also highlighted the contributions of other rising stars.
Saffie Osborne, thriving in the team atmosphere, secured a win for Team Great Britain and Ireland on Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger, a 2‑1 favourite in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint. Osborne, who has led the Racing League on three occasions, captained a young squad that included Moore and Dylan Browne McMonagle. She reflected on her ride, saying, “I heard some doubts about this horse, but the track suited him perfectly and I’m glad I got the chance to prove it. Looking at the calibre of jockeys here – Ryan Moore, Ireland’s champion – it’s inspiring.
I even managed to make Ryan laugh a couple of times, so I’m happy with that!” Team Hong Kong made a strong start, winning the first two races. Young rider Jerry Chau partnered Tuco Salamanca to a decisive victory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash, delivering a clear‑cut win for the team’s debut appearance.
Chau, 26, guided Ollie Sangster’s four‑year‑old to the front in the final furlong, then opened a comfortable gap to finish ahead of Gold Star Hero, ridden by teammate Vincent Ho, by a length and a half. Chau told Sky Sports Racing, “It felt amazing crossing the line. No words can describe winning at Ascot.
I grew up watching Ryan Moore on YouTube and have always admired him.” Luke Ferraris quickly added to Hong Kong’s tally by taking the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers on the Ian Williams‑trained 17‑2 outsider Dancing In Paris. After a late surge, Ferraris edged out Moore’s mount, Shrimp Shady (trained by Andrew Balding), by a length, with Mountain Road finishing third for Yutake Take and the Rest of the World. Ferraris remarked, “That was phenomenal – the horse was fitter than I expected and turned out brilliantly. He didn’t settle as well as he could have, but still produced a great turn of foot.
I’ve only ridden a two‑mile race in recent years, so it was a nice change. We have a strong group of young riders representing Hong Kong, and I hope that continues.” Overall, the Shergar Cup at Ascot showcased a blend of seasoned expertise and emerging talent. Moore’s return after twenty years not only provided a boost to his home team’s points tally but also reminded spectators why he is regarded as one of the sport’s most reliable and accomplished jockeys.
His ability to deliver winning rides on a variety of mounts – from long‑shot outsiders to well‑fancied Group One contenders – illustrated the depth of his skill set. Meanwhile, the performances of riders such as Saffie Osborne, Jerry Chau, and Luke Ferraris highlighted the growing international appeal of the event and the promise of the next generation of jockeys. The Great Britain and Ireland team’s 81‑point total secured the Shergar Cup crown, while Moore’s 47 points earned him the individual Silver Saddle, capping a memorable weekend of high‑octane racing at one of Britain’s most historic venues.