識價杯騎師名單
The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot on Saturday 9th August is extending its international reach this year as the world's two all-time record-breaking jockeys, Jorge Ricardo from Brazil and Russell Baze from the USA, prepare to meet at Ascot for the very first time.
Never before has a South American jockey taken part in the event, while Baze will be only the second from the USA. The participation of a Turkish jockey, current champion Halis Karatas, is another first for the competition.
Baze and Ricardo will meet for the first time at a press conference at Ascot on Thursday 7th August, when the team selection process and draw for mounts will take place. They will be team-mates on the Rest of the World team, captained by Japanese legend Yutaka Take, who rode his first Ascot winner in this event 12 months ago.
On 9th January this year, Ricardo became the first ever jockey to reach 10,000 winners when riding a five-timer at San Isidro racecourse in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he moved from Rio De Janeiro in 2006. Baze matched that feat on 1st February when winning the third race at Golden Gate Fields, near the eastern shoreline of San Francisco Bay. The two have been going head-to-head for the world record of career victories since December 2006 when Baze broke the previous record of 9,530 set by Lafitt Pincay.
“The two headline riders at this year's event have over 20,000 winners between them on the other side of the Atlantic,” said Charles Barnett, Chief Executive at Ascot. “Given their profile, it's remarkable that they haven't yet met let alone ridden in a race together, but that makes it all the more exciting for us and our racegoers. Who would have thought that it would take a jockeys' competition in the UK to set up this intriguing scenario?!”
Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, commented:
“Extending the international appeal of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is one of the key aims of the competition and something close to our own hearts, so to be welcoming a South American jockey for the first time is particularly exciting.
“We're also delighted that the current Champion Jockey in Turkey, Halis Karatas, will be representing that country for the first time. His participation is sure to add yet more international interest, especially at a time when the profile of racing is growing at such a rapid rate in his homeland.”
Ricardo has ridden in a handful of races in the USA and once in Europe in the 1994 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Baze has ridden in Canada at Toronto and Vancouver, but this will be the first time he has ever competed outside North America.
Jorge Ricardo said today: “I am really excited with the invitation to participate in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.
“My warmest thanks to Ascot Racecourse and to Dubai Duty Free for giving me the opportunity to compete with some of the best riders in the world, and especially to meet Russell Baze, my rival in the competition to be "The Winningmost Rider in the World".
Russell Baze said: “I am honoured and excited to be participating in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup. I am really looking forward to competing with and against all the fine riders who will be present, especially Jorge Ricardo.
“The conditions I will face in this event will be quite a departure from what is normal for me and I am eager for the challenge it will present. It should be a lot of fun. Good luck to all.”
Halis Karatas will ride for the European Team under the captaincy of Frankie Dettori* and alongside fellow Italian Mirco Demuro, who finished runner-up in three races when he took part in the 2001 Shergar Cup. As well as huge success in Turkey, Karatas has also ridden several winners at the Dubai Carnival.
The Great Britain team will be captained by Hayley Turner, runner-up in the race for the Silver Saddle trophy, presented to the event's leading individual rider, last year. Her team-mates will be the 2006 UK champion jockey, Ryan Moore*, and last year's joint champion, Seb Sanders*.
Jamie Spencer*, who shared the UK jockeys' title last year with Seb Sanders, will captain the Irish team. His team-mates will be this year's Derby-winning jockey, Kevin Manning, and either Johnny Murtagh* or Jimmy Fortune*.
As well as all the action on the track, there will be additional activities throughout Shergar Cup day, including the opportunity for racegoers to get autographs from the jockeys before racing and a post race concert featuring artistes from the 'Here & Now' tour. The famous names of the 80s will be performing their set of classics beginning at approximately 4.45pm. Acts include ABC, Bananrama, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Belinda Carlisle, Paul Young and T'Pau.
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