Shergar Cup Is A Real Thriller

First run in 1999 at Goodwood and ever since at Ascot, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup is an annual horseracing event that is different to almost every other raceday.

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Twelve jockeys race in four teams and earn points depending on where they finish in the race.

Each team is made up of three jockeys and their individual points are added together to give their team an overall score.

Unlike standard day-to-day racing, the jockey does not wear the silks of the horse's owner. Instead, they wear their team's specific colours, although the design of each set of silks and cap colours varies to distinguish individual competitors from one another in a race.

By the end of the six-race card, the points tallies are calculated and the winning team is crowned champion.

There is also an individual award, the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle, which works in the same way: whoever is top of the league table at the end of the day is the winner.

This year's Shergar Cup takes place tomorrow at Ascot, with the first race off at 14.35 SA time.

The 2025 Shergar Cup at Ascot is going to be significantly different as the Ladies team has been replaced by the Asia team.

The four teams this year are more 'geographically based', a term to be used loosely given there is a team called 'The Rest Of The World'.

Nevertheless, Asia, Europe, Great Britain and Ireland, and The Rest Of The World will compete for the team Shergar Cup Trophy.