Great Britain & Ireland clinched victory at the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, held at Ascot, with jockeys Ryan Moore, Saffie Osborne, and Dylan Browne McMonagle playing pivotal roles in securing the team’s top spot. The event, which featured teams from Europe, Hong Kong, and the Rest of the World, saw Great Britain & Ireland live up to their status as strong favourites.
The Shergar Cup commenced with a strong start from debutants Hong Kong, who claimed the first two races. Jerry Chau won the opening Shergar Cup Dash aboard Tuco Salamanca, narrowly edging out teammate Vincent Ho riding Gold Star Hero. Following this, South African Luke Ferraris, riding for Hong Kong-based connections, secured a win on Dancing In Paris in the Stayers race, narrowly defeating the 11-10 favourite Shrimp Shady, ridden by Moore.
Despite the early dominance by Hong Kong, the campaign shifted in favour of the home team as Great Britain & Ireland mounted a successful comeback across the middle races. Moore contributed significantly with two wins: first on Asgard’s Captain in the Challenge over 1 mile 4 furlongs, and then aboard Archers Bay in the Classic, also over 1 mile 4 furlongs. Between these victories, Osborne secured a win on Red Spells Danger in the 6-furlong Sprint race. These results helped consolidate Great Britain & Ireland's lead in the team standings.
Ryan Moore, returning to the Shergar Cup circuit at Ascot for the first time in two decades, was awarded the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle as the leading jockey, accumulating 47 points—12 more than runner-up Christophe Lemaire of Team Europe. Lemaire, known for his consistent finishes, contributed two second-place and one third-place results to help Europe tie with Hong Kong for second place in the team rankings, each finishing on 62 points. The Rest of the World team finished fourth with 39 points.
Moore, praised for his performance, noted that riding alongside world-class competitors such as Yutaka Take and Lemaire was a highlight of the event. Meanwhile, Osborne described the day as "brilliant," expressing gratitude for sharing the stage with top-tier jockeys. The competition concluded with Europe’s Frida Valle Skar winning the final race, the Mile, aboard Crown Board, but this did not alter the team standings.
Great Britain & Ireland finished the day with a total of 81 points, confirming their position as the winners of the 2026 Shergar Cup. The event showcased an international field of leading jockeys and underscored the depth of talent across the participating teams.