Rest of the World win Shergar Cup

Frankie Dettori led the Rest of the World team to a convincing 138-102 victory over Great Britain & Ireland in the Shergar Cup at Ascot today.

Dettori’s troops were fast out of the blocks with a 1-2-3 in the opening race and never looked back, with South Africa-based Weichong Marwing picking up the silver saddle as leading rider with 37 points.

The contest went down to the last race, with the home team still just about in touch, but they had been unable to make any inroads into that early lead and were well beaten in the end.

The Rest of the World, retaining the trophy, were represented by Dettori, Gerald Mosse, Yutaka Take, Damien Oliver, Dario Vargiu and Marwing.

Great Britain & Ireland were led by Kieren Fallon and included Johnny Murtagh, Darryll Holland, Kevin Darley, Michael Kinane and Jamie Spencer.

Mosse got the Rest of the World off to a winning start on Tychy in the Prince’s Trust Shergar Cup Distaff and his team filled the first three places, with Dettori second on Fruit Of Glory and Marwing third on Caveral.

That gave them an immediate 32-8 lead.

Mosse produced Tychy, the well-backed 11-4 favourite, to lead a furlong out and the Stuart Williams-trained mare ran on to score by a length.

“It’s great to win on a prestigious day like this because the staff work so hard at home – it’s a brilliant day,” said Williams.

“I’m very happy with Gerald. He’s given her the perfect ride. He did exactly what I asked him to. He is a world-class jockey.”

Dettori brought Justaquestion from last to first in the following Porthault Shergar Cup Juvenile.

The 10-1 shot finished fast to win by a head from the home team’s Beaver Patrol (Kinane), with Vargiu just a neck further away in third for the holders on Lamh Eile.

As a result, the away side stretched their lead to 28 points.

Fallon restored some honour for the Britain & Ireland team by landing the Murphy’s Fastflow Shergar Cup Mile on Pentecost.

The Andrew Balding-trained runner was sent off the 9-2 favourite on the back of his success in the same race last year, and Fallon stormed down the outside to land the prize by a length and a quarter.

Vortex (Take) claimed second, while Wing Commander (Vargiu) scored more valuable points for the Rest of the World in third and they retained a 74-46 lead.

Fallon said: “They went off pretty quick and it didn’t really suit me the way they strung out, because this little fellow likes to come between his horses. I’d no chance but to go round them.

“He deserved his win because he has been unlucky a few times.”

Kinane registered a second win for the home side when he produced Dorothy’s Friend (11-4 favourite) late and fast to take the Sodexho Shergar Cup Stayers.

Oliver sent Double Obsession up to challenge for the lead around two furlongs out, but Dorothy’s Friend was gathering momentum and came with a telling run to see off the runner-up by a length.

Highland Games (Take) came through for third to make the score 96-64.

Kinane said: “I was a bit further back than I originally planned, but they were racing early and I was always happy I was to going to find my way home really well.”

Desert Quest benefited from a brilliant Jamie Spencer ride to take the Carvill Shergar Cup Challenge for the home side.

Fallon set a strong pace on Hambleden and Spencer was left sitting in last place on the 14-1 shot with a wall of horses in front of him turning for home.

But as Fallon edged off the rail, Spencer shot through the gap to pip Counsel’s Opinion – who had himself come with a late run down the middle of the track – by a neck.

The Rest of the World team remained 116-84 up and they sealed a convincing win when Marwing made all on Paradise Isle in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint.

He had Chris Wall’s runner smartly away and after bowling along in front she kept finding more, accelerating away to a three-length win.

Darley brought Alderney Race through to claim second, with Khabfair (Vargiu) back in third.

Marwing’s victory on the 14-1 shot also helped him to take the silver saddle for top jockey. He finished the day with 37 points, six clear of Dettori, with Kinane third on 28.

He said: “She broke the gates well and travelled well, settling nicely in front. When I asked her she accelerated and it would have taken a decent horse to catch her.”

Of his team’s victory, he added: “I am delighted with that. It’s an honour to represent a team like this. Winning the silver saddle is a bonus.”