Great Britain and Ireland win Shergar Cup after Spencer and Callan doubles
Jamie Spencer led the Great Britain and Ireland team to Shergar Cup glory with one race to spare, although it was Neil Callan who snatched the Silver Saddle off his teammate in the final contest.
Spencer partnered Themaxwecan and Hamaki to wins on a track he knows so well, adding to the earlier success of teammates Callan on Orbaan and Kieran Shoemark on Pride Of Priory.
It was also a noteworthy afternoon for trainer William Haggas who had three winners on the card – Hamaki, Pride Of Priory and Amanzoe.
Hamaki's win meant the GB and Ireland team had an unassailable lead heading into the final race.
But the drama was not over as Callan grabbed his second winner on the card on Adaay In Asia to win the Silver Saddle on 50 points.
Mason strikes on debut
First blood went to the Ladies as Joanna Mason struck aboard 5-2 joint-favourite Amanzoe in the 1m2f classified stakes, beating HMS President (Kieran Shoemark, Great Britain and Ireland) and Carolus Magnus (Jason Collett, Rest of the World).
But Callan, fresh from a treble on Friday, continued his excellent form to strike on Orbaan in the 7f classified stakes with teammate Spencer back in third. The 100-30 joint-favourite was chased home by Divine Magic, ridden by top Japanese jockey Takeshi Yokoyama for the Rest of the World team.
And the Great Britain and Ireland team kept their advantage throughout the card despite two more wins for the Ladies team. Hayley Turner partnered Manaccan to victory in the Shergar Cup Dash before Emma-Jayne Wilson steered Jungle Cove home in the Shergar Cup Mile.
Mason enjoyed her first winner in the Shergar Cup and for top Newmarket trainer Haggas in the opening contest.
"She gave me a great feel," said Mason. "This is amazing. I was coming down here just hoping I could do everything right and do the girls proud so it's great to have won the first leg and I hope it continues.
Each of the eight races was worth 15 points to both the winning rider and his or her team, with ten to the runner-up and then seven, five and three down to fifth place.
Shergar Cup standings
Great Britain and Ireland - 132 points
Ladies- 81 points
Rest of the World - 72 points
Europe - 51 points
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