Final Scores
Europe................ 94
Rest Of World...... 57
Great Britain........ 53
Ireland................ 44
16:25 Well it has been a good afternoon of racing – shame about the weather though.
It has not been an afternoon without controversy though.
American rider Russell Baze having his first run in the UK aboard Mac Gille Eoin fell foul of the stewards for excessive use of the whip and picked up a four day ban as a result.
Although strictly within the rules there is a strong feeling across the board that the stewards were excessively harsh and a warning for the rider would have been sufficient.
Two other bits of news from the Stewards room, Hayley Turner picked up a one day whip ban for her ride on Gee Dee Nen and in the same race Jamie Spencer's day got worse with a one day ban for careless riding.
A crowd of 33,115 have enjoyed the racing this afternoon, now they have an 80’s concert to enjoy.
Something else I forgot to mention earlier was the racecard - the layout was excellent and it is a template that should be used for all racecards at all meetings.
As for me thank you for the music but I’m off home. On Monday we will be at Southwell but from a wet Ascot good afternoon.
16:20 They think it’s all over – well it is now as Gerald Mosse takes the finale on Perfect Star to secure victory for the European team as well as securing the Silver Saddle for himself as the top jockey at the meeting.
Run over the Old Mile course Jamie Spencer has an inauspicious first / race double. After Bentong refused to race in the first Vanderlin burst the stalls in the finale and had to be withdrawn.
In the race itself, it was Fishforcompliments who set the pace before folding turning for home. Two out it looked to be anyone's race as the field were well bunched.
Gold Sovereign under Richard Hughes was the first to head for home but was soon swamped by Ace Of Hearts, Kay Gee Be and the winner, with the winner running on best of all..
15:50 Unless my maths are wrong Europe have an almost unbeatable lead, with 76 points Great Britain on 53 points, who only have two riders in the last, must fill the first two places and the two European riders must finish outside the first five. Ireland have 35 points and with another blank the world team are still on 40.
15:45 Well it looks as though Europe now have an unassailable lead here as Italian rider Mirco Demure takes the fifth race on Strategic Mount (who won the race last year under Frankie Dettori).
It was actually quite an exciting race, run in terrible conditions. Coeur De Lionne set the steady pace in the early stages but began to fade half way and eventually finished a virtually pulled up last.
Record Breaker under Richard Hughes for Ireland took up the running as they turned for home and it looked to be a decisive run. However Demuro knew he had plenty of horse under him and he gradually wore down the leader to win by a length from Record Breaker.
Hayley Turner on Formax took third place for Great Britain.
15:15 With the World team scoring a blank in the fourth the Europeans consolidate their lead with 61 points, Great Britain now take second place with 43, three ahead of the world team, whilst the Irish still trail with 20 points.
15:10 Racing can be so heartbreaking sometimes. Gerard Mosse on Bogside Theatre attempted to make all in the two mile stayers race in rain softened ground and he led the entire race, apart from on the line, where Great Britain captain Hayley Turner pushed Gee Dee Nen to the front in the final two strides.
A good result for the home team but you can’t help feel but sorry for Mosse. Hitting the front from the opening of the gates he was tracked by La Vecchia Scuola for almost all of the race.
Indeed the steady pace ensured there was little change in the order until the closing stages.
Turner kept the winner settled near the rear for the best part of the race. An eye catching run from Richard Hughes riding Enjoy The Moment half a mile from home developed into nothing and he ended up finishing last of the ten runners.
As Turner launched her challenge a dour duel ensued with the result unsure until judge Di Clarke called the result of the photograph. Reserve Grande Caiman picked up some nice third place prize money for connections.
14:35 A change in the lead now as Europe now have 44 points, four ahead of the World team. Great Britain are getting further adrift whilst the Irish are the whipper's in.
14:30 Mr Take’s run hit a brick wall in the third race as the European team scored very well, assisted by Edge Of Light refusing to enter the stalls, thus gaining a four point score for a non-runner.
In this six furlong event it was Spanish Bounty who set the initial pace for the World team although the field were very tightly bunched and by half way there were three in line up front, with Spanish Bounty, Sudden Impact and Al Muheer line abreast.
However it was French rider Gerald Mosse who put in a typical Gallic run to come from the pace to take the race on the favourite Shifting Star. Al Muheer took second with the running on Kaldoun Kingdom running on into third place.
14:15 The going has officially changed to Good to Soft
14:03 In the competition the Rest Of The World extend their lead with 30 points, Europe are now a clear second with 20, Great Britain have 18 and Ireland trail with 12.
13:55 It is twelve years since Frankie went through the card at Ascot, luckily the rules of the Shergar Cup mean that Yataka Take can only ride in five of today’s six races.
However he is now two parts of the way towards a nap-hand as he rides a double on Nans Joy to take the seven furlong Distaff.
In contrast to the first race where he led from the front, this time it was a come from behind performance as he swept down the centre of the course to take the lead in the final half furlong.
This race was not so good for the front runner as Hayley Turner set the pace on Sakhee’s Secret only to finish a tailed off last.
Before Take launched his run it looked to be a battle between Europe and Ireland as Chantilly Tiffany and Froissee battled it out up front
The jockeys are reporting the ground to be riding the soft side of good.
13:20 Well it is first blood to the Rest Of The World team as the Japanese veteran rider, and team captain, Yataka Take took Strike Up The Band for a stalls to post victory.
That is more than can be said for Bentong, under Jamie Spencer, who planted himself in the stalls reminiscent of a well known TV advert.
The challengers for most of the race were Fathom Five and the very well backed Dark Missile with Evens And Odds tracking the leaders.
Coming in the final stages the winner never looked to be in any danger. Unusually for a five furlong sprint there was very little coming from behind, Hayley Turner on Crimson Fern made some progress but was a never nearer fifth.
When Jamie Spencer eventually returned on Bentong he had a look of thunder on his face and he gave the horse a few slaps, I hope the stewards will take a look.
12:08 Some clarification on the reserve system being used this afternoon.
There are two reserves for every race and, for the first time this year, they can be bought in up to 45 minutes before each race.
Runners have to be declared to run one hour before each race, at which point there is 15 minutes to bring in a reserve if there is a non-runner.
Reserves that do not get a run will receive a £500 travel allowance.
11:56 Some news on the betting front from official bookmakers Ladbrokes.
In the first, Dark Missile is the best supported horse at 7/1.
In the Distaff at 1:45, Steam Cuisine, also 7/1, is the one attracting support.
In the sprint it is 25/1 outsider Berbice who is being nibbled at.
In the stayers at 2:55, 14/1 shot Desert Sea is attracting some money, whilst race five is quiet on the betting front.
In the finale Perfet Star has been well backed and is now available at 13/2, whilst 16/1 chance Kinsya has been well backed.
In the betting for the Golden Saddle (top jockey), Turkish rider Halis Karatas has been very well supported and is now as short as 4/1.
11:47 Unfortunately it is now raining quite heavily and, even worse, it looks as though it is set to stay.
As a result some of the events are now moving under cover.
The official going is Good, although if the rain continues for any significant length of time then it is bound to ease.
10:40 Good morning from Ascot where the weather is overcast and it has just started spitting, which is a great shame as Shergar Cup day is a real fun day.
The Shergar Cup is the only team event in racing where points are allocated, Formula One style, depending on the finishing position in the race.
Each of the four teams, Great Britain, Ireland, Europe and the Rest Of The World have three riders.
Each race has a maximum of ten runners, with two of the teams represented by all three of their jockeys and the other two by two of their jockeys (this evens itself out throughout the afternoon with each jockey riding in five races and sitting out one).
Points are allocated as follows:-
1st – 15 points
2nd – 10 points
3rd – 7 points
4th – 5 points
5th – 3 points
Non-runner 4 points.
The teams:-
Great Britain: Hayley Turner (Capt), Frankie Dettori and Seb Sanders
Ireland:- Jamie Spencer (Capt), Kevin Manning and Richard Hughes
Europe:- Gerald Mosse (France) (Capt), Hakis Karatas (Turkey) and Mirco Demure (Italy)
Rest Of World:- Yataka Take (Japan) (Capt), Jorge Ricardo (Brazil) and Russell Baze (USA)
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