Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Spicy Marg all set to take on her elders in Nunthorpe

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Spicy Marg is set to be supplemented for next week’s Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell’s charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago.

As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice.

He said: “The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form.

“I think it’s very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it’s in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will.

“We’re very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.”

Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride.

“Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that’s a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,” said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did.

“She wants good, fast ground. We’ll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.”

Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood.

Knight said: “She doesn’t need to do much between now and then, she’s put her weight back on already.

“I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it’s good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race.

“I think she’s in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track.

“I just think it’s key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.”

Arizona Blaze ready to light up York for Murray team

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After a weekend to remember, Adrian Murray is relishing another bid for Group One glory at York next week, when Arizona Blaze goes for gold in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe.

While stablemate Power Blue caused a major shock against the long odds-on True Love in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on Saturday and Bucanero Fuerte ran out a Group Three winner on the same Curragh card, Arizona Blaze is vying for favouritism in the five-furlong feature on the Friday of the four-day Ebor Festival.

Second at the Breeders’ Cup, he has been running to a remarkably consistent level this season in a division that continues to surprise, finishing second in the Commonwealth Cup to Time For Sandals and then winning the Sapphire Stakes by a clear-cut two lengths.

Trainer Adrian Murray is in a rich vein of form
Trainer Adrian Murray is in a rich vein of form (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s among the favourites and that is because he always turns up on the day – hopefully he will do again in the Nunthorpe,” said Murray.

“He’s a very exciting horse, he never runs a bad race and the sprint division is wide open this year. There’s no standout horse this season, all the big sprints are being won by different horses. Ours is one of the favourites, but it’s wide open.

“I was talking to Roger O’Callaghan (owner of star two-year-old Lady Iman) the other day and they are going to York because of that, it could be a big field. It’s exciting times ahead, for sure.”

Reflecting on a big-race double for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing he described as “unbelievable”, Murray said: “We expected a run from Bucanero, well we expected a big run from both of them, but we were taking on Aidan O’Brien in the Group One.

Power Blue and jockey David Egan with owner Kia Joorabchian at the Curragh in the winner’s enclosure
Power Blue and jockey David Egan with owner Kia Joorabchian at the Curragh in the winner’s enclosure (Damien Eagers/PA)

“I was always told never be afraid to run, they don’t win anything stood in their stable.

“Power Blue ran very quick sectionals all the way and that is what won him it, he has a high cruising speed but isn’t a horse who finds a whole lot off that speed. He can maintain a very high cruising speed.

“He’ll probably go for the National Stakes now on Champions Weekend, that will be his next target I think. He’s in at York in the sales race, but he’s a Group One winner now.

“Bucanero was just very comfortable the whole way through the race and the further they went, the more it looked like he was going to win.

“He was never out of his comfort zone and is a very good horse.”

Bucanero Fuerte in winning action
Bucanero Fuerte in winning action (Damien Eagers/PA)

Murray went on to praise his assistant Robson Aguiar and his role in the victories.

“We’re very lucky to have these horses and it’s all down to Robson, he’s sourced them and didn’t really spend fortunes on them. He’s a brilliant man at picking these horses,” said Murray.

“None of the good ones were that expensive in the grand scheme of things, but I think we got a little bit lucky with Bucanero as he’s by Wootton Bassett and we got him just before he really took off.”

Thursday gallop to determine plans for Daryz

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Unbeaten French colt Daryz faces a crucial workout on Thursday as connections ponder whether to take on the challenge of next week’s Juddmonte International at York.

The Sea The Stars colt has won each of his four starts to date, most recently impressing in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud in late June.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard saddled Calandagan to finish a close second to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International 12 months ago and Daryz could bid to go one better on the Knavesmire.

Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: “He won’t run in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano this weekend, that’s for sure.

“We’re going to work him on Thursday and then make a decision about whether he goes to York or whether we run him next in the Prix Niel and follow a more traditional route towards the Arc, so we’ll see what he does on Thursday and make that decision then.

“He’s in good shape, we just want to be 100 per cent sure that we’re making the right call because it’s going to be a big ask going to York and we just want to see that last piece of work and make sure we’re making the right decision.

“By Thursday we’ll know a bit more about the field and the ground. The horse is in great form, but it’s going to be a big step for him so we’ll work him on Thursday, Mickael (Barzalona) will ride him, and we’ll make a decision then.”

The team have already ruled out a return to York for recent King George hero Calandagan, who has the Japan Cup as his major target for the second half of the season.

“He came out of Ascot absolutely fine and we could have gone to York, but we just felt we didn’t want to keep asking him to run at Group One level over the summer when we know we want to run him internationally at the end of the year,” Routh added.

“He’s not going back to the stud or anything, he’s staying in the yard, but we’re just not working towards a race.

“The main objective is the Japan Cup and he’ll have one run before, either in a Group Two in France or in the Champion Stakes.”

Half Million bid on the horizon for Anthelia

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Anthelia has already scooped a huge prize for connections this season and Rod Millman’s Super Sprint scorer is set to go in quest of further riches at York next week.

The four-time winner – who was bought for just £6,000 by her handler at the sales as a yearling – denied Eve Johnson Houghton’s Havana Hurricane by a short head at Newbury and will now try to replicate those heroics on the Knavesmire in the valuable Harry’s Half Million By Goffs sales race.

“She’s come out of the race perfectly well,” said Tim Palin of owners Middleham Park Racing. “It’s a good form line as well, Havana Hurricane has come out and franked the form in the Richmond and I know he didn’t win it, but he was arguably a little bit unlucky.

“She’s won four of her first five races, and Rod slightly blames himself for the Empress Stakes for getting the tactics slightly wrong, but other than that blip, she’s been flawless.

“Obviously there are decisions to make of where do we go, but in theory, we’ll probably go to Harry’s Half Million at the Ebor meeting in York.”

Anthelia’s sole defeat came when upped to six furlongs in the Empress Stakes at Newmarket, but connections have no fears about tackling the distance for a second time in a race that has a total prize-fund of over £500,000 and the Middleham team won with Shouldvebeenaring in 2022.

“Seeing is believing, but her pedigree and her style of racing suggests she will get six (furlongs) and it was just the tactics that got her beat last time,” continued Palin.

“She was very strong through the line at Salisbury, she was strong through the line in the National Stakes and she was strong through the line at five furlongs at Newbury.

“In a race like the Harry’s Half Million, they are going to go a mad pace and you are going to have to have five-furlong pace and stay six furlongs to win the race.

“She ought to get six furlongs and she only just got up on the line in the Super Sprint, so with another half-furlong she might have won another half-length.

“It is such a lucrative pot with almost £250,000 to the winner and you’re probably going to win more for finishing third in the Harry’s Half Million than you would next year for winning a Group Three. It’s definitely worth going down that route.”

Connections are inclined to dream big with the bargain buy who has turned to gold and a strong showing in Yorkshire could see the daughter of Supremacy step into Group company later in the campaign.

The Anthelia team have their eye on a visit to Salisbury next month, which could prove a suitable stepping stone to a Cheveley Park Stakes tilt against some of the best sprinting juvenile fillies of the season.

“She’s going to have an entry in the Cheveley Park because it could be a small field,” added Palin.

“She might go to the Dick Poole as well, and it could be Harry’s Half Million, Dick Poole, then potentially Newmarket if she wins one or both of those.

“If we come up a little bit short and we aren’t quite a Group filly, then we’ve always got the Listed race which we’ve already won and then the Redcar Trophy in October.

“So if we come unstuck in the Harry’s Half Million or the Dick Poole, we probably wouldn’t go down the Cheveley Park route but go down the Redcar route.”

Racing Bulletin for 11/08/2025

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Centigrade return looks to be edging closer

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Centigrade will attempt to get the mercury rising in his eagerly-anticipated return to the racetrack this autumn.

The son of Too Darn Hot showed great potential in two starts as a juvenile, beaten only a short head by Jonquil on debut before wasting little time opening his account when downing subsequent Queen’s Vase runner-up Further in impressive fashion.

Ralph Beckett’s one-time Derby hope is yet to hit the track this term after suffering an early-season injury, but the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned colt is soon to return to Kimpton Down to begin building up to very belated seasonal reappearance.

Highclere’s Harry Herbert said: “He’s had his issues, but he’s now back into canter exercise and if all goes to plan he will have an autumn campaign.

“This is a very important horse physically and his form is outstanding. The way he has progressed physically is great and he could be a very important horse not only maybe later this season but also next season.

“If he stood up in front of you he would knock your socks off and along with (William Haggas’) Merchant, they are two very important and exciting physicals. We’re excited to get him back to Ralph’s and hopefully get him back to the racetrack later this autumn.”

Sajir shines for Murphy and Fabre in Prix Maurice de Gheest

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Sajir excelled at Deauville to give master trainer Andre Fabre a first success in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.

A winner of the Abernant Stakes at Newmarket earlier in the season, the mount of Oisin Murphy was somewhat unfancied with Jerome Reynier’s Royal Ascot hero Lazzat a heavy favourite to defend the crown he wore 12 months ago.

James Doyle had attempted to keep things simple by sending his mount forward, but a furlong from home the challengers were gathering on either side with the eye drawn to Murphy aboard Sajir.

Lazzat could soon give no more and it was left to Sajir to surge to glory, with the defending champion an honourable second and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Prix Jean Prat winner Woodshauna a fast-finishing third.

Fabre said: “This is the first time I’ve had him 100 per cent, he was in great condition.

“Prince Faisal is a great breeder, a great owner and a great person.”

The son of Prince Faisal’s Make Believe now looks set for an appearance at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend, with Fabre adding: “Obviously, like his father, the Prix de la Foret will be his path.”

Oisin Murphy tasted Group One glory at Deauville
Oisin Murphy tasted Group One glory at Deauville (PA)

It was Murphy’s third Group One win of the year after Lead Artist’s Lockinge win and striking aboard Tornado Alert in Germany recently.

He was delighted to make a successful visit to the Normandy coast to reclaim the mount on Sajir and said: “He was brilliant today. Andre had him spot on and he travelled beautifully for me.

“He relaxed very well. I was a little bit behind but I tried not to get there too soon.

“I think the horse improved 7lb on any form he’d shown before and he delivered.

“Today he switched his leads and powered to the line. The way he bends his knee he feels like a horse that will handle juice. I’m so happy for Prince Faisal.”

Meanwhile, Reynier has his sights on an Ascot return for Lazzat having felt conditions may have been too quick for his star four-year-old.

Lazzat could return to Ascot
Lazzat could return to Ascot (David Davies/PA)

He said: “James Doyle felt he couldn’t get the horse to relax. We’ll check the tracking data, but he felt the horse was doing too much and using too much energy.

“He had a flat spot – something that rarely happens – but still picked up again to fight and take second.

“He would be more comfortable on slightly softer ground and today it was still a bit firm. Autumn is coming and for him, the target will be the Champions Sprint at Ascot, as we know he likes easier going.

“It’s a shame to lose the crown, but we were beaten fair and square. Sajir is a very good horse and now it’s up to him to confirm.

“Initially, we were thinking of running the Prix de la Foret and then the Champions Sprint Stakes, but James Doyle feels we shouldn’t stretch him too much, or he might be even more outpaced than today.”

Graffard could also look to visit Britain with Woodshauna, with Haydock a possibility for the colt who sports the colours of John Stewart’s Resolute Racing operation.

Graffard said: “Woodshauna produced a terrific turn of foot — he really ran very well. He has a lot of speed, and Christophe (Soumillon) thinks this is as far as he stays.

“Woodshauna is entered in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. That’s an option. I’ll discuss it with the owner and Christophe, who knows him well now.”

Rebel’s Romance and Loughnane rock in Germany

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Billy Loughnane registered his first Group One victory when guiding globetrotting superstar Rebel’s Romance to the Westminster 135th Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten on Sunday.

A firm favourite of trainer Charlie Appleby, the seven-year-old began his Group One haul in this very race back in 2022 and three years on he was back in the German capital to strike for the eighth time at the highest level.

Keen to keep things simple Rebel’s Romance was up with the pace throughout the early stages, keeping close tabs on Andre Fabre’s Junko and when straightening for home he showed his class to bravely hold off the French challenger.

It was in fact a fourth Group One success on German soil for the well-travelled dual Breeders’ Cup Turf hero who could return to Del Mar for another crack at the season-ending showpiece, with Coral making him the 5-1 co second-favourite for a third Stateside victory.

Appleby said: “It’s great for Billy, but more importantly great for the horse who keeps sparkling on all continents.

“To have him carry on at the top level is fantastic for Sheikh Mohammed and I see this as a pre-cursor for the Canadian International at Woodbine and then the Breeders’ Cup.”

Loughnane has ridden eight winners from 12 rides for Appleby this season and it is fitting his first success at the top table comes in Germany, having notched his first Group-race triumph at Cologne in April last year.

It caps a memorable weekend for his teenage pilot who also won the Sweet Solera Stakes in the royal blue of Appleby and Godolphin aboard Dance To The Music at Newmarket on Saturday.

Loughnane told Wettstar: “This is a feeling I can’t describe, it’s a feeling of ecstasy, what a horse and I’m very lucky to be riding in these colours and riding a horse like this.

“He’s a star of a horse and has been going for a good few seasons now. Big thanks go to William Buick and I spoke to him last night and he told me exactly what to do. He’s a superstar.”

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old’s father Mark Loughnane was the proudest man on Wolverhampton racecourse having watched his son’s finest hour from Dunstall Park.

He told Sky Sports Racing: “Words can’t describe something like that and it is something Billy has dreamt about all his life, it was amazing.

“I had an even-money favourite in the first but I was more on my phone watching Billy and we can’t thank Mr Appleby and George Boughey and people like that enough. His agent Tony Hind has done a super job and they’ve all really catapulted Billy to the next level but as a dad, I’m proud as punch.

“When it was talked about he might be riding Rebel’s Romance he rang me straight away and was like a child in a sweet shop and he said ‘I’m on this horse of Mr Appleby’s and it’s going to be great’. I told him just to relax as a lot can happen between races.

“I’ve spoken to him on the phone and he’s absolutely elated. I was the first one on the phone and he’s bouncing and for a young fellow, he’s a super young man. What he’s done in a short space of time, I’ve helped him get started, and now that’s it off he goes.

“It’s awesome for our house and as a family, his mum is here racing today and we’re all absolutely cock-a-hoop for him.”

Prescott has Prestige plans for exciting Moon Target

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The exciting Moon Target will take a route Sir Mark Prescott knows well when she heads to Goodwood for the Virgin Bet Prestige Fillies’ Stakes later this month.

The Heath House youngster has shone brightly so far and having enhanced her reputation at Yarmouth, now heads for the Group Three event Prescott won with Red Camellia in 1996, but also saw his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista beaten in 2019.

“All being well she will run in the Prestige,” said Prescott. “I managed to get Alpinista beat in the Prestige though, which seemed like the end of the world at the time but turned all right in the end.

“It is amazing when you look back now and think how on earth did that get beat there, but she did.

“You don’t want to be disparaging, but I don’t suppose they were world-beaters Moon Target beat at Yarmouth. However, she did it well didn’t she and she appears to be very relaxed which is such a great help.”

It has been hard not to be impressed by Moon Target’s progress to date, as she built on the taking nature of her debut win at Newmarket by scoring by an even wider margin in her second start.

Asked at what point he knew he had a smart horse on his hands, Prescott said: “Not until I worked her, I liked her much much more once I worked her as she always went very very well without apparently doing anything.

“Initially I thought the others must be very bad because of the way she just did it, so she’s been interesting and I think she caught everybody by surprise when it turned out at home she could go.”

Sir Mark Prescott is still at the top of his game
Sir Mark Prescott is still at the top of his game (Mike Egerton/PA)

With one Prestige Stakes for Moon Target’s owners Cheveley Park Stud banked almost 30 years ago, the daughter of Cracksman’s rise to prominence gives Prescott the chance to continue his long association with the leading owner-breeder operation.

He added: “I’ve been a while without one for Cheveley and I had a marvellous run for them with Pivotal, Red Camellia who actually won the Prestige, and Hooray, who often gets forgotten and was champion two-year-old filly.”

Moon Target could also help Prescott in one of the few frontiers he has yet to conquer, with a Classic victory on home soil towards the top of his wish list for his remaining years in the training ranks.

Currently as short as 16-1 for next year’s 1000 Guineas and 20-1 for the Oaks, Moon Target is proving a huge asset to ensuring the Heath House master’s enthusiasm still burns brightly and could bring dreams of glory in next season’s biggest races into range if excelling on the Sussex Downs.

“I’ve never trained a winner of the Cesarewitch and I’ve never trained a Classic winner in Britain, they’re the things that need doing,” continued Prescott.

“I’m still motivated and if you are a trainer the goals remains the same all the time, as long as you retain your enthusiasm and your marbles. If anything it becomes more important as you know you are running out of time.

“Horses like Moon Target are what keeps everyone going and she looks good at the moment and we’ve got to hope everything goes right with her, but you can’t be disappointed so far.”

While Moon Target has already advertised her talent, waiting in the wings at the foot of Warren Hill and still to make her debut is the latest graduate from one of Prescott’s most successful lineages, Alpinara.

A sister to Alpinista and also from the family of multiple Group One-winner Albanova – as well as that one’s own sister, the dual Champion Stakes winner Alborada – she cost Kia Joorabchian 2.5million guineas at Tattersall’s prestigious Book One sale last autumn.

A bay, unlike her illustrious grey sibling who gave the Newmarket veteran one of his finest hours in Paris three years ago, Alpinara is steadily building up to her first racecourse appearance, envisaged to sport the Amo Racing silks for the first time in the autumn.

Salisbury Races – 13th August
Alpinista’s sister is still to make her debut

“She is very interesting because at the sales everyone was asking does she look like Alpinista and the answer was not at all, completely different,” explained Prescott.

“She’s better looking in fact, but nothing like Alpinista and more like Albanova who was the grandmother of Alpinista.

“Alpinista won as a two-year-old at Epsom against colts in July, yet this one looks like she will be September into October really.

“She seems to go well and has really come to life recently. We turned her out for three months after we broke her in and she’s been fine, but who knows at this stage.”

O’Brien has Champions Weekend in mind for Montreal

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Montreal, a hugely impressive eight-length winner at Leopardstown on Thursday, is heading to the Irish Champions Festival weekend.

Aidan O’Brien’s superbly-bred Sea The Stars colt stepped up markedly on his debut effort, putting his race to bed in a matter of strides for Wayne Lordan.

He holds an entry in the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 14 over seven furlongs, while the day-earlier KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes over a mile could also come into the equation back at Leopardstown.

“He’d improved from his debut at Leopardstown when he was very green and finished third,” said O’Brien.

“We like him and he showed what we thought he might when he wasn’t as green, he was impressive.

“I think he could go back to Leopardstown on Champions Weekend, something like that might be next.”

O’Brien also confirmed the departure of two smart three-year-olds from his ranks, with Irish Derby runner-up Serious Contender sold to race in Hong Kong and Hampton Court Stakes winner Trinity College also on the move.

The trainer said: “Serious Contender’s form is excellent and obviously we’re sorry to see him go. He’s a good horse and will do very well.

“We thought he couldn’t get beat in Ascot (when second to Merchant) and then the one that beat us was entered in the King George.

“Trinity College has gone to Australia.”

Hughes counting down to the Nunthorpe with Sayidah Dariyan

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Richard Hughes is confident he has a “great chance” of notching a second big sprinting prize of the summer when course winner Sayidah Dariyan returns to York for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.

The Lambourn-based former jockey registered the first Group One success of his training career when stable flagbearer No Half Measures was a shock 66-1 winner of the July Cup at Newmarket, but a day prior it was his ever-improving three-year-old filly who sparkled when winning on the Knavesmire to set up her Nunthorpe bid.

“We hope we have a great chance, she’s really going the right way,” said Hughes, who memorably won the Nunthorpe aboard both Oasis Dream and Sole Power as a rider.

“I wouldn’t swap her for anything and with No Half Measures as well we know we have two nice fillies.”

Sayidah Dariyan has barely put a foot wrong in her three-year-old career, winning a competitive conditions event at Chelmsford before bumping into the thriving Symbol Of Honour when third in Newbury’s Carnarvon Stakes and then going on to finish fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

However, it was at York in the Summer Stakes where the Jaber Abdullah-owned three-year-old excelled in the hands of Billy Loughnane, leaving her as short as 8-1 in places for the Ebor Festival’s sprinting highlight.

“Last time when she won at York it was the first time she was ridden the way I like,” continued Hughes.

“She was covered up and ridden for a turn of foot and she just exploded. We were able to see the best of her ridden that way.

“I don’t think coming back to five furlongs will be too much of a hindrance to her and I think she’s quite fast.”

Sayidah Dariyan will be joined on her journey to Yorkshire by stablemate America Queen who will also sport the Abdullah silks when she lines up for the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

A 4-1 chance for the Group Two event after blitzing the opposition by 12 lengths on debut at Haydock, Weathercock House handler Hughes is hopeful of another bold showing.

“She definitely runs in the Lowther and we’re very pleased with her,” continued Hughes.

“We hadn’t seen what she did at Haydock at home. We thought she would win at Haydock but when the jockey gave her a slap and she took off, it was what we hadn’t seen before so hopefully she’s saving more for the track.

“We’ve got a nice bunch of two-year-olds who are going the right way and we’re really pleased with them.”

Racing Bulletin for 10/08/2025

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Maureen Haggas urges improvement in Shergar Cup jockeys

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Maureen Haggas has called on Ascot to improve the overall quality of Shergar Cup jockeys, saying she felt the standard of riding was not “as high as it should be” during Saturday’s competition.

Haggas, who is assistant trainer to her husband William, saddled a winner for the yard at the fixture as Tenability was steered to a neck victory by French rider Delphine Santiago in the 12-furlong Classic.

Teams representing Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, Asia and the Rest of the World took part and Haggas believes some competitors were “inexperienced” for the task.

She told ITV Racing: “It’s a great experience for them all and it’s good money here today and we’re running nice horses. I just think there are some very good riders here but there are some riders that are inexperienced in this country, or inexperienced internationally.

“It is good money so it attracts nice horses and this horse (Tenability), for instance, is a very nice, young, progressive horse.

“It’s a great concept and you’d like to see more of the higher profile jockeys supporting it because it is a good concept and it’s good money and it’s good fun, but I’m just not sure that the standard of riding is as high as it should be.

“There are some very good riders here and Mirai (Iwata) who works for us is a lovely rider but young and very inexperienced and you can just see the way the races are run, they’re spread out all over the track.

“Everyone has got to learn and get experience and it’s all about experience but for this money, you need to keep the standard of horses up so you need to keep the standard of riding up as well.”

In response to Haggas’ comments, Ascot director of racing and public affairs Nick Smith said: “We’re really pleased with the new format and it’s great for awareness of the event that Asia won, given the media coverage in India and Japan in the run-up. Suraj (Narredu) winning ride of the day will only enhance that further.

“Once again both the team and jockey competitions went to the wire thanks to the draw formula that James Willoughby provides.

“As always with these things, there will be cases where lack of track experience and such like can play a part. We are sympathetic to that and will take all comments on board.”

Team Asia lift Shergar Cup in thrilling finish

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Team Asia shaded victory in the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup as they triumphed by just one point from Europe in an exciting finish to the Ascot contest.

The teams were slightly different this year with the Ladies side no longer featuring, although there were leading female jockeys on three different squads.

Hollie Doyle captained Great Britain and Ireland, leading Joanna Mason and Robbie Dolan, but they finished six points off the top in third, with the Rest of the World fourth.

Team Asia won two races, with Indian jockey Suraj Narredu successful on Fireblade (13-2) in the Stayers and Ryusei Sakai of Japan winning on Prince Of India (100-30 favourite) in the Sprint.

However, it was Mirai Iwata’s second on Cerulean Bay in the closing Mile which clinched the trophy.

Team Asia’s Ryusei Sakai (left), Suraj Narredu and Mirai Iwata (right) celebrate
Team Asia’s Ryusei Sakai (left), Suraj Narredu and Mirai Iwata (right) celebrate (Adam Davy/PA)

Captain Narredu said: “I am absolutely delighted. To win the Shergar Cup on my debut is the icing on the cake after my winner. I know this is a new team that was introduced this year. I am sure in future they will be a force to be reckoned with.

“The Asian team deserves to get recognition and I am proud to captain the team. It was a fabulous for us to get two winners and some place points from the six races.

“We all enjoyed ourselves and it is a big deal to have come. It will be big back home in India.”

Australian Hugh Bowman, riding for the Rest of the World team, won the opening Dash on Richard Fahey’s Vintage Clarets (5-1) and claimed the Silver Saddle trophy which recognises the leading jockey, chalking up a total of 32 points and finishing ahead of Europe’s Per-Anders Graberg on 26.

Hugh Bowman after victory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash with Vintage Clarets
Hugh Bowman after victory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash with Vintage Clarets (Adam Davy/PA)

“I’ve had a good afternoon, obviously I won the first race and had a couple of others that have run very well,” said Bowman.

“It’s my second Silver Saddle, actually, in three attempts. It’s a lovely afternoon, it’s good fun.

“It’s more of a relaxed environment than your normal raceday, particularly when you’re riding against jockeys from different corners of the world. It’s usually a major race and the stakes are very high and it’s very important for everyone so this is, important as it is, it’s a little more relaxed and it’s been a great afternoon.

“It’s a good afternoon and I’m very proud to have won the Silver Saddle again and it’s great to see the raceogers come and support the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup because it is a wonderful annual event and it is recognised globally and it’s great to be a part of it.”

Team Europe jockey Per-Anders Graberg celebrates after winning on Ebt's Guard
Team Europe jockey Per-Anders Graberg celebrates after winning on Ebt’s Guard (Adam Davy/PA)

Each of the six Ascot races were won by different riders, with Graberg landing the Mile event on Ebt’s Guard (13-2) while his fellow Team Europe rider Delphine Santiago struck on 7-4 favourite Tenability in the Classic.

Dolan, who moved to Australia almost 10 years ago and sprang to prominence as the ‘singing jockey’ on TV show The Voice, broke into a chorus of “We Are The Champions” after guiding 11-4 favourite Night Breeze to a popular victory in the Challenge.

Diamond Necklace sparkles on debut for O’Brien

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Aidan O’Brien is harbouring Group One hopes for Diamond Necklace after a straightforward success over a better-fancied stablemate in the Grand Hotel Malahide Irish EBF Fillies Juvenile Race at the Curragh.

A St Mark’s Basilica half-sister to top-level scorers Chicquita and Magic Wand, Diamond Necklace was sent off a 9-1 shot under Wayne Lordan on her debut, with Ryan Moore opting to ride Minerva instead.

Moore’s mount raced prominently throughout and as Diamond Necklace really hit her stride in the closing stages, Minerva had no answer and had to settle for a length-and-a-half defeat.

O’Brien is anticipating plenty of progress from the winner and said: “She’s a lovely filly with a great pedigree.

“Her dad didn’t win a maiden for another three weeks so that’s St Mark’s Basilica for you. He went on to win the Dewhurst and how he improved from two to three was incredible.

“She could end up being one for the Fillies’ Mile with maybe a run or two in between. She’s going to be lovely next year.”

Paddy Power make Diamond Necklace a 25-1 chance for next year’s 1000 Guineas.

O’Brien and Moore had claimed the preceding Audi Naas Irish EBF Maiden in style as Mission Central (4-1) galloped home eight lengths clear of Chicago Pope.

The son of No Nay Never was out of the places on his initial outing in April but O’Brien felt a subsequent gelding operation had the desired effect.

He said: “We ran him in Dundalk the first day and he was a bit worse than green, so that’s why we took him home and gelded him.

“He’s been perfect since and we’ll go up to a Listed or Group race with him next time. He’s a very quick horse.”

Geryon sprang an 18-1 surprise for Ger Lyons in the opening Revamp Conservation And Restoration Irish EBF Maiden, although the trainer was not shocked to see Colin Keane’s mount prevail.

He said: “We have two colts that we like, this fella and Res Ipsa who ran at Leopardstown on Thursday. Res Ipsa fluffed his lines so I suppose it took away confidence and hence his starting price, but they are two similar horses.

“You would like to think there would be plenty of improvement as it was his first day away from Glenburnie and first day on turf.

“The best-looking horse I had by Lope de Vega was Endless Drama, who was second in the Guineas, and this is the second best one I’ve had by him. He’s a very good-looking colt.”

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