Katie Davis has best finish of 5th place in Shergar Cup

U.S. jockey Katie Davis had a best finish of fifth place riding Asgard’s Captain in the Challenge handicap Saturday while competing for the rest-of-the-world team on Shergar Cup day at Ascot, England.

Asia made a winning debut with a team of Suraj Narredu, Ryusei Sakai and Mirai Iwata edging host Europe by one point in a thrilling conclusion to the international jockeys’ competition.

Asia posted two victories on the card with Narredu guiding Fireblade to success in the Stayers and Sakai scoring on promising 3-year-old Prince Of India in the Sprint.

Iwata delivered a vital contribution as well on runner-up Cerulean Bay in the closing race, leaving Asia with a final points total of 68. Europe with 67 was second, Great Britain and Ireland with 62 third and rest of the world fourth with 55.

It was the second time a team has won the Shergar Cup by a single point after Europe denied the Ladies in 2014.

“I am absolutely delighted,” Asia’s team captain Narredu said. “After my winner to win the Shergar Cup on my debut is the icing on the cake. I know this is a new team that was introduced this year, and I am sure in future they will be a force to be reckoned with.

“The Asian team deserves to get recognition, and I am proud to captain the team. It was fabulous for us to get two winners and some place points from the six races. We all enjoyed ourselves, and it is a big deal to have come. It will be big back home in India.”

Rest of the world’s Hugh Bowman captured the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle award 18 years after receiving the leading rider prize in his Shergar Cup debut in 2007.

The Australian was successful on Vintage Clarets in the Dash and scored points in two subsequent races, ending the day with 32 points. Europe’s Per-Anders Graberg was second with 26 points with Asia’s Ryusei Sakai and Robbie Dolan picking up 25 each.

“Riding on this track is something that all jockeys around the world aspire to do,” Bowman said. “I have had the privilege of doing it previously, and to come back and win a race, I thought I might have been in with a squeak of winning a couple, but nevertheless we have come out with a major prize.”