Mosse dominates as Europe triumph in Shergar Cup

Ice-cool captain Gerald Mosse guided his European team to an emphatic victory in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot.

The hugely-experienced Frenchman and his compatriot Ioritz Mendizabal both had Mark Johnston to thank as the trainer provided them with a winner each in the four-sided jockey competition.

Mosse had also been involved the last time Europe were successful back in 2008 and picked up the Silver Saddle prize for top individual rider on both occasions. “It was excellent,” he said. “It was a great atmosphere, the weather was good and everyone enjoyed it.”

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With points given to the first five home, the final standings were Europe on 91, Great Britain and Ireland on 61, Rest of the World 46 and the Girls on 40.

Europe had a virtually unassailable advantage by the fifth race, the Pagegroup Shergar Cup Challenge, where their light blue colours filled the first three spots home.

Mendizabal won four-and-a-half lengths clear on Star Lahib (5-1), with Mosse and another Johnston runner, Sadler’s Risk, second and Andreas Starke and Icebuster third.

Johnston ran five in the Keltbray Shergar Cup Classic and was rewarded by a one-two-three, Mosse doing the honours on Royal Skies (7-1) ahead of Bushel and Statutory.

Kieren Fallon was given a four-day whip ban for his efforts on Bushel (24-27 August), but the Great Britain and Ireland captain had delivered one of two of his team’s winners.

Fallon’s side had been on top, with firstly James Doyle lifting Nine Realms (9-2) in the Les Ambassadeurs Casino Shergar Cup Mile.

Ed Dunlop was delighted to have Fallon aboard Homeric, who likes the course and came widest of all under the veteran to prevail in a tight finish over fellow 9-2 joint-favourite Mutual Regard in the Redcentric Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap.

Joao Moreira punched the air after winning the Barclays Shergar Cup Dash. The Brazilian, making his Shergar Cup debut, helped 11-2 chance Ahtoug come clear of Doyle and Steps and said: “I was a bit nervous beforehand but I knew he had a chance. The atmosphere is great and the people here breathe racing.”

It was all over bar the shouting when his team-mate Gary Stevens and Annunciation (8-1) short-headed 3-1 favourite Noble Deed and Rosie Napravnik in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint.