'He's nicely handicapped' - key quotes for the final six Shergar Cup races

Saturday: 2.10 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash | 5f | 3yo+ 0-105 | ITV/Sky

Arecibo chased home Oxted in last year's King's Stand Stakes and brings Group 1-placed form into handicap company, but the Dash is by no means a one-horse race with the field featuring classy veteran sprinter Judicial and last year's Portland winner Hurricane Ivor.

What they say

Tim Easterby, trainer of Lampang and Count D'Orsay
Lampang was unlucky at Goodwood as he didn't really have a race because he tripped coming out of the stalls, but he has come out of it well. They are both in good form and would want good ground, but I hope it's not too firm for Count D'Orsay.

William Haggas, trainer of Hurricane Ivor
He's lost his way a bit this year. He's such a good horse and we're going to put some half blinkers on him.

Robert Cowell, trainer of Arecibo, Blue De Vega and Dubai Station
Arecibo drops into a handicap for the first time in a long time and he could well be nicely handicapped. Dubai Station drops back in trip as he showed a lot of speed last time and we feel five furlongs might be more his gig at the moment. Blue De Vega has won over course and distance, so we go there with three live chances.

Mick Appleby, trainer of King Of Stars
We have had this race in mind for him since he finished second there a fortnight ago. There’s no reason why he can’t run well again and he likes fast ground.

John Ryan, trainer of Manaccan
The race looks perfect for him. He ran well enough at Royal Ascot and again since at Chester. Hopefully, they don’t put too much water on as he enjoys fast ground. We are delighted to have Hayley Turner, who is riding out of her skin and should suit the horse.

Saturday: 2.45 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers | 2m | 4yo+ 0-100 | ITV/Sky

Super Superjack, named after Premier League star Jack Grealish, just failed to land a blow for favourite backers at Glorious Goodwood but makes a quick turnaround off 4lb higher.

Among those at longer odds is Moliwood, trained in Newmarket by South African Dylan Cunha, looking for his first win on British soil.

What they say

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Red Verdon
He ran a great race to be second under a big weight at Beverley last time and this type of race should suit him. He enjoys fast ground and this two-mile trip should play to his strengths.

Heather Main, trainer of Island Brave
He won this race a couple of years ago when it wasn't called the Shergar Cup due to Covid. We’ve had this race in mind for him all year and all the boxes are ticked – the ground, the trip and the track.

Gary Moore, trainer of Make My Day
As long as the race doesn’t come too quick for him I expect him to run very well, and he would have an each-way shout.

Dylan Cunha, trainer of Moliwood
His most recent outings have been on the all-weather with some of his form looking strong with the likes of Coltrane who went on to finish fourth in the Goodwood Cup. We think he’s just as effective on the turf and we’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t make the first four.

Milton Harris, trainer of Super Superjack
He had to be one of the unluckiest losers of the week at Glorious Goodwood last time and, provided the race doesn’t come too soon, I expect him to go very close. We’re pleased to get Nicola Currie for the ride as he can be tricky, and hopefully we’ll avoid any interpretation issues.

Saturday: 3.20 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge | 1m4f | 4yo+ 0-100 | ITV/Sky

Pretty Sweet is a first Shergar Cup runner for George Boughey. She missed out narrowly on black type last month at Newmarket but takes a drop in class.

The hat-trick seeking Pride Of Priory and Charging Thunder are bound to prove popular, as is The Whipmaster, whose own four-race winning streak came to an end over course and distance last time.

What they say

Roger Varian, trainer of Angel Power
We’re trying her in cheekpieces and stepping her up to a mile and a half for the first time. She would prefer some ease in the ground ideally but still should give a good account.

William Haggas, trainer of Pride Of Priory
He's won his last two and done well winning particularly well last time. I'm a little concerned about the ground but Chris Stickels (clerk of the course) assures me it's going to be lovely.

George Boughey: runs Pretty Sweet in the ClassicCredit: Edward Whitaker

George Boughey, trainer of Pretty Sweet
She ran in a Listed race last week, and was probably too far back in her previous race at Ascot. She goes there in great form and there are few opportunities to run for this type of prize-money.

Joe Tickle, trainer of Danehill Kodiac
He won over the course and distance as a three-year-old and if he returned to the form of his sixth on his seasonal debut he would go close. We ran him over too far at Royal Ascot and he didn’t handle the undulations at Ripon last time.

Gary Moore, trainer of The Whipmaster
He looked as if he was outstayed last time but he may well have needed the run. Hopefully, he steps up on that, which would give him a good each-way chance.

Saturday: 3.55 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile | 1m | 4yo+ 0-105 | ITV/Sky

Montassib looks to be William Haggas's best chance of the day when he tackles a mile for the first time.

The four-year-old was doing his best work at the end when fifth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and went one place better in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket the following month.

Isla Kai has a reasonable course record with a win and a Hunt Cup sixth, while Via Serendipity attempts to win this race for a second time after his 2018 success. Power Of Darkness, the 2019 winner, is first reserve.

What they say

Roger Varian, trainer of Greatgadian
He ran well in the Hunt Cup at the royal meeting and should appreciate this smaller field. He would prefer some cut in the ground ideally but still should give a good account.

John McConnell, trainer of Lexington Dash
We had declared him for a premier handicap at Galway last Sunday but the ground went too soft and we had this race as an idea in reserve. We don't think the trip will be a problem.

William Haggas, trainer of Montassib
He would appreciate slower ground and I think he'll improve for going up to a mile. I think he'll run a good race, although he has a bit of a wide draw.

Dianne Sayer, trainer of Redarna
He's a wear-your-heart-on-your-sleeve little guy who gives everything, and he's won at the track, so nothing ventured, nothing gained, even if we are a small fish heading into a big pond.

Via Serendipity: a course winnerCredit: Mark Cranham

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Via Serendipity
He’s a funny horse and we’ve only recently worked out which tracks he likes and which tracks he doesn’t. We made the mistake of running him at York last time, but since then we’ve had this race in mind as he likes going right handed and has won at the track before.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Jungle Cove
He doesn't like to be bullied in his races but he's a grand horse and goes there in great form. He was a bit unlucky not to win last time at Gowran where he ran very well. He'll go on pretty much any type of ground.

Saturday: 4.30 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic | 1m4f | 3yo 0-95 | ITV/Sky

Nicola Currie won the penultimate contest for the ultimately successful Ladies team a year ago and Joanna Mason is in pole position for them on Berkshire Breeze.

Trained by Andrew Balding, the three-year-old is a model of consistency and was beaten a head over 1m6f at the track last time when he was ridden by Mason’s teammate Hayley Turner.

What they say

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Supagirl
This will be her first start over a mile and a half, so it'll be interesting to see how she gets on. She's been very progressive this season. It looks like she's got plenty of weight, but she's racing in three-year-old company and hopefully she can take home some of the great prize-money.

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Franz Strauss
Obviously, it’s ultra competitive as you would expect as it’s the Shergar Cup, but he ran well to be second at Sandown last time. This stiff mile and a half should play to his strengths.

William Haggas, trainer of Hamaki
He's been waiting for slow ground and we just could not wait any longer. We're getting into the peak of the summer and it's too good an opportunity to miss. It's his first time at the trip but I think he'll stay.

Michael Bell, trainer of Pub Crawl
He’s drawn deep on the track, so hopefully can get a bit of cover, and is a consistent sort who should give his usual good account. We could have gone for easier pickings but we thought he warranted a stab at a big pot.

Saturday: 5.05 Ascot
Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint | 6f | 3yo 0-100 | ITV/Sky

Harry Dunlop has saddled two previous winners at the Shergar Cup meeting and is back for more with Adaay In Asia. The filly is on a hat-trick after wins at Chepstow and Goodwood.

Razeyna is another leading chance for William Haggas, while Spangled Mac attempts a five-timer for George Boughey.

What they say

George Boughey, trainer of Corazon and Spangled Mac
Spangled Mac is on a five-timer but was a non-runner last weekend at Thirsk because the ground went soft. This ground should be more his bag and he’s a horse who stays six furlongs very well, and we are delighted to have the services of Nicola Currie. Corazon got in some traffic last time and has run well previously at Ascot. Her mark is coming back down to being competitive.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Tolstoy
We’ve not had him long as we bought him out of the Gosden yard recently, so we are still on a fact-finding mission with him. Hopefully, he can make up into a Saturday horse and we plan to run him on the all-weather through the winter.

Adaay In Asia (left): recent winner at Glorious GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

Harry Dunlop, trainer of Adaay In Asia
She put up a super performance when winning at Goodwood and although this is much tougher, we still expect her to run well. She should enjoy the straight track.

William Haggas, trainer of Razeyna
She wants a bit of dig in the ground ideally but it was an opportunity too good to miss.

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Sterling Knight
He’s a course-and-distance winner who has been a model of consistency this summer. He ran a great race to be third at Windsor the other night and should be thereabouts again.

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