Turner returns to saddle in Sweden for world championship

Britain’s most successful female jockey Hayley Turner is to return to the saddle for the inaugural Lady Jockeys’ Thoroughbred World Championship at Bro Park, Stockholm, on July 4.

Turner retired from racing in 2015 after a career that yielded multiple Group 1 successes, and has since turned her hand successfully to broadcasting, being part of the ITV Racing team at Royal Ascot.

Turner, 34, said: “I have had some very tempting offers to return to the saddle and resisted most of them, but I had such a great time in Sweden last year at the opening of Bro Park that I jumped at the chance to go back there again.

"Last time I was an ambassador for the visiting team in an international challenge they staged, so it will be very different this year competing against some of the world’s top female jockeys.”

Turner, whose last rides were at the 2016 Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot, will be joined by nine other female stars of the saddle in Sweden, including Sammy Jo Bell and Ana O'Brien.

French sensation Maryline Eon, who partnered Yellow Storm in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly this month, is also slated to compete, as are Stefanie Hofer (Germany), Fanny Olsson (Sweden) and Sara Slot (Denmark).

Chantal Sutherland, who rode a winner on the opening day at Bro Park last year, will be jetting in from the US to ride, while Kei Chiong, the star apprentice from Hong Kong, and Danielle Johnson from New Zealand complete the line-up of international talent.

The championship, which will be decided on a points basis over five races forming part of a seven-race programme, has received the enthusiastic backing of leading Scandinavian owner and breeder Benny Andersson, who said: “I’m delighted to give my support to this event, which I know will focus international attention on racing in Scandinavia.

“The line-up of competitors from so many different countries is a credit to the organisers and endorses the prestige of the event, which we are all looking forward to very much.”