Shergar Cup History and Rules
Shergar’s name is infamous in horse racing folklore as much for his headline-grabbing abduction as for his exceptional performances on the racecourse.
Kidnapped by the IRA following his retirement to stud, the Aga Khan’s handsome colt was one of the most impressive Derby winners of the late 20th century and the cream of his generation. But the striking chestnut was never seen again after the 8th February 1983, when hooded gunmen seized the stallion. A £2million ransom was demanded and refused and the luckless Shergar was almost certainly dead within days, either through neglect or more sinister reasons.
At stake for the winning team at Ascot in the annual Shergar Cup, a magnificent trophy which depicts the mighty 1981 Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, graciously donated by His Highness The Aga Khan.
Points are awarded to the first five horses to finish in each of the six Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup races, all handicaps with at least 10 runners. The winner receives 15 points, the second 10 points, the third seven points, the fourth five points and the fifth three points. If there is a non-runner which cannot be replaced by a reserve, 4 points will be awarded both to the team and jockey missing out on his scheduled ride. The team with the most points after the six races have been run will win the Shergar Cup.
If a dead-heat occurs in a race, the points for the two places are added together, divided by two and shared between the two jockeys/teams.
If there is a tie for the Team or Silver Saddle competitions, there will be a countback on the number of winners and the team/jockey with the most winners will be adjudged the winner overall. If they are still level, then second places will be counted and so on
The jockey amassing the most individual points will take home £3,000 plus the Allistair Haggis Silver Saddle trophy.
As with most sports viewed as individualistic, horse racing is very much a team effort. Not only does a jockey need a good horse underneath him or her, there is the trainer and stable staff striving to make sure all bases have been covered on the day. However, like golf, team events like the Ryder Cup and the Shergar Cup do seem to capture the public’s imagination and Ascot’s enclosures will be full this Saturday with punters cheering on riders from across the world.
Great Britain and Ireland won the event last year and are represented this time around by Pat Cosgrave, Adam Kirby and Fran Berry, last year’s Silver Saddle winner. France’s Gerald Mosse is joined by German jockey Andrasch Starke and Swedish rider Per-Anders Graberg in Team Europe. The Rest of the World team is made up of Yutaka Take, Corey Brown and Joao Moreira while Hayley Turner, Hollie Doyle and Josephine Gordon comprise the Girls Team.
Yutaka Take led the Rest Of The World to victory in 2012 and Gerald Mosse steered Europe to success a year later. The Rest Of The World have won the competitions six times since its inception in 2000 with Europe winning four times. Great Britan and Ireland have won three times but Ireland won in three times in a row between 2009 and 2011 when fielding a team of their own. The Girls team is a recent innovation but were successful in 2015 with Sammy Jo Bell winning the Silver Saddle in the same year.
888sport have priced up the 2018 Shergar Cup and make Great Britain and Ireland their 7/4 favourites. The Girls are 2/1 with Europe at 11/4 and the Rest Of The World at 5/1.
The draw has been kind to the Girls and they look a decent bet to add to their sole victory in the competition so far but you’ll get better value in betting for the Silver Saddle. Josephine Gordon looks overpriced at 12/1 with 888sport with Fran Berry the 4/1 favourite.
Shergar Cup 2018 Silver Saddle Current Best Odds
Fran Berry 4/1
Per-Anders Graberg 6/1
Hollie Doyle 7/1
Andrasch Starke 8/1
Adam Kirby 9/1
Hayley Turner 9/1
Corey Brown 12/1
Josephine Gordon 12/1
Pat Cosgrave 12/1
Joao Moreira 14/1
Yutaka Take 16/1
Gerald Mosse 25/1
As far the racing itself, FIRE BRIGADE looks worth an interest in the Mile at 6/1 with William Hill. Michael Bell’s runner had to be withdrawn before the start of last week’s Golden Mile at Goodwood but will be more at home on the Straight Mile here and recent rain is very much in his favour.
The heavens have also opened in time for CORELLI (3/1 with William Hill), who could outclass his rivals in the Classic. John Gosden’s colt hasn’t raced since finishing third in the Lingfield Dreby Trial in May but the second in that race, Kew Gardens, won a Group 1 in France recently and
