Andrew Newton
SHERGAR CUP Saturday 11th August at ASCOT
09/08/2012
Shergar Cup Meeting – Ascot (11th August 2012)
This Saturday’s sees the renewal of the Shergar Cup Meeting at Ascot racecourse – a day of racing that sees four teams of jockeys – Girls, Europe, Rest Of The World and Great Britain & Ireland – battle it out in six races for the Shergar Cup.
The Rules.....
The six races will have a maximum of 10 runners in each with either two or three horses representing each team.
The points are then awarded on a 15, 10, 7, 5, 3 basis to the first five horses home (non-runners score 4 points).
Subject to full fields, each jockey will have five rides and the team with the highest total score after the sixth race wins Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
The Teams......
THE GIRLS:
Hayley Turner (Captain)
Emma-Jayne Wilson
Chantal Sutherland
EUROPE:
Frankie Dettori (Captain)
Andreas Suborics
Cristian Demuro
REST OF THE WORLD:
Yutaka Take (Captain)
Aaron Gryder
Matthew Chadwick
GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND:
Kieren Fallon (Captain)
Johnny Murtagh
James Doyle
Andy Newton’s Best Bets
12.55 - Les Ambassadeurs Casino Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (4yo+ 0-100) ATR
Good 1m
Trainer Andrew Balding has a great record in this opening race, having won it three times since 2003, and with Frankie Dettori drawn to ride his ARABIAN STAR then this is another added bonus. He was last seen running down the field here in the Royal Hunt Cup, but that run was too bad to be true and after a 6 week break can return to the form that saw him win his two races prior to that outing.
1.30 - Redstone Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (4yo+ 0-100) Winner £14,754 ATR
Good 2m
The European team could go well again in the second race – this time with ADDRESS UNKNOWN, who is going to be ridden by Andreas Suborics. The yard also took this race 12 months ago with a similar sort, and after a recent second here at the track then this 5 year-old looks primed to go well.
2.05 - Barclays Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-105) Winner £14,754 CH4
Good 5f
Andrew Balding’s Desert Law is respected but I think this can go to Hong Kong-based jockey Matthew Chadwick. He rides the consistent TAAJUB, who hails from the Peter Crate yard and the fact he’s already got a course and distance win to his name is a huge plus – in fact his form at Ascot on a whole reads an impressive: 2-2-15-4-1-2.
2.40 - Titanic Belfast Shergar Cup Classic (Handicap) (CLASS 3) (3yo 0-95) Winner £14,754 CH4
Good 1m4f
Trainer Mark Johnston won this race back in 2010 and with his horses in flying form at present then take your pick from any of the three he runs – Prussian, Fennell Bay and Scatter Dice. The way their horses are going then I’d not be surprised if any won, but if you want me to stick my neck out I’ll go for FENNELL BAY. He’s another with course and distance winning form at the track, while a recent fourth of 18 at Goodwood was a very decent effort. Yes, that race was only 9 days ago, but he takes his races well and should be in the shake-up once again.
3.15 - Michael Page International Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap) (CLASS 3) (4yo+ 0-95) Winner £14,754 CH4 Good 1m4f
A 4 year-old has won this race 7 times in the last 9 runnings and with that in mind I’ll take a chance on this one going to Hayley Turner and the girls. The team captain rides Andrew Balding’s JOHN BISCUIT here and after an excellent second at the Berkshire track last time out that was a clear sign he’s in great heart. Yes, he’s gone up another 2lbs here, but if Hayley can settle him better he looks as if this extra 2 furlongs can bring out more improvement.
3.50 - Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint (Handicap) (CLASS 2) (3yo 0-100) Winner £14,754 CH4 Good 6f
Mince is worth a second look as he comes from a yard that has done well in this race before and has probably done a bit better than his recent finishing positions suggest. However, this could be another one for the Mark Johnston team and the girls – they team up with GALICIAN. She’s won twice already this season, while a close fourth of 18 at Glorious Goodwood last week was a great run and back down to 6f (that race was over 7f) he can add to the excellent run the stable are having at present.
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