After an exciting six-race card, the Rest of the World team emerged as the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup’s triumphant winning team with 86 points, ahead of the joint runners-up Europe and The Girls on 63.
The performance by the ROW was all the more meritorious as all three team members were making their Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debuts.
The ROW team was last successful in 2016 and has now won three times since 2012. Leading Japanese jockey Yuga Kawada was this year’s ROW team’s winning captain,
“I didn’t have a great day myself, but my other members were very successful today and rode very well winning a race each,” said Kawada. “I came here last year during a trip to England and it has been great to catch up with people I met last year. It has been good to meet new people – it has been a fun day.
“It has been a great atmosphere, a great result and I am thrilled to have been the captain. I hope I can come back next year!”
Kawada’s team members Vincent C.Y. Ho and Mark Zahra, won a race apiece. Zahra was also awarded Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day for his ride on Indianapolis in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge, and Ho won the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile on Power Of Darkness.
Zahra finished second in the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle award on 35 points behind the winner Hayley Turner on 40.
LUCKY 13TH FOR HAYLEY TURNER
Hayley Turner’s second place in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint aboard the Paul D’Arcy-trained Pass The Vino gave her 10 points – which was enough to ensure that she won the Alistair Haggas Silver Saddle for the jockey who amasses the most points during the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Turner became the first jockey to win the Silver Saddle in consecutive years, having also won it in 2018.
Her total of 40 points left her five points clear of Mark Zahra (35), with Filip Minarik and Vincent Ho Chak-Yiu joint-third on 32 points. Gerald Mosse and Jamie Spencer shared fifth place with 20 points apiece.
Turner said: “Alistair Haggas was the one who created this whole event and he got me involved, which has been a big boost to my career. Sadly he is no longer with us but it is lovely to win his Silver Saddle trophy for the second time.
“Pass The Vino is a lovely horse, very game, and they’ll have a lot of fun with him this year.
“I can’t believe I won the Silver Saddle again. It’s a massive thrill – this event means so much to me. I really enjoy it and it’s great because all my family are here as well.
“Even though the other girls [Jamie Kah and Nanako Fujita] didn’t ride a winner, they will have gained lots of experience from riding here and they’ve both enjoyed it. And it’s brilliant that our team finished joint-second as well. I’m definitely going to celebrate this evening. I’d like to think that’s bagged me a spot here for next year!”
Hayley’s parents, sister and grandmother were all present to watch her receive her trophy.
ZAHRA AWARDED THE DUBAI DUTY FREE RIDE OF THE DAY
Mark Zahra was awarded the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day for his winning ride on Indianapolis in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge, the third race in the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
Zahra commented: “It is a real thrill to get the award of the Dubai Duty Free Ride of the Day. To be honest, I had never ridden at the track and you can only walk up the straight and back. I thought that for the first couple of races I could sit at the back a little and let it all unfold on horses I don’t know much about. On Indianapolis I got there in the nick of time and it all went good.
Zahra was also second in the competition for the Alistair Haggis “Silver Saddle” for the jockey with the most individual points, to last year’s champion, Hayley Turner.
Zahra said: “I think that Hayley Turner gets the pick of all the rides before anyone else does! Good on her and it was a thrill to come second to her.
“I would love to come back, I have had a really good day.”