Ladies team removed and replaced by new side in changes made to this year's Shergar Cup at Ascot

The Ladies team will be dropped and replaced by a team from Asia at this year's Shergar Cup, with Hollie Doyle describing the move as a "nice reminder" of the equal playing field between female and male jockeys. 

The Ladies' side has been hugely successful since being introduced to the Shergar Cup in 2012, winning four of the last six runnings of the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored event. 

The newly created Asia team taking its place will feature Ryusei Sakai, the rider of Saudi Cup winner Forever Young and Shin Emperor. He will be joined by fellow Japanese rider Mirai Iwata and Suraj Narredu of India, who will captain the side.

Doyle, who became Britain's winningmost female jockey at Ascot on Saturday, will captain the Great Britain and Ireland team.

She said: "The Ladies' team has had great success over the years, but the new changes that have been made, which include integrating the male and female jockeys on the same team, are a nice reminder that we as jockeys compete on a level playing field internationally."

Hollie Doyle: will captain the Great Britain and Ireland team at this year's Shergar CupCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan will join Doyle's team, while the Rest Of The World side will be captained by Hong Kong-based rider Karis Teetan.

Per-Anders Graberg, Sibylle Vogt and Dario di Tocco make up Europe's team, with the remaining rider for Great Britain and Ireland and two other jockeys for the Rest Of The World yet to be confirmed.

Nick Smith, Ascot's director of racing and public affairs, said: "We’re pleased to have secured top talent from across the world to compete at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, with at least eight different countries set to be represented already.

“We feel now is the time to move away from a ladies-only team and this new evolution of the format keeps the event fresh."

The Shergar Cup takes place at Ascot on August 9, with £500,000 in prize-money across the six-race card and £25,000 in stable bonuses.

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