Global Stars Doyle and Sakai to Headline New-Look Shergar Cup
Updated: May 12, 2025 at 11:06 am
Leading jockeys from across the globe, including Hollie Doyle, Ryusei Sakai and Karis Teetan, will headline the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, with a new-look format also announced for the team event which takes places this year on Saturday, August 9.
Japanese jockey Sakai will be the star attraction in the newly-created Asia team. He is already a household name on the international scene through his partnership with the globe-trotting Forever Young, the world's highest-rated horse currently, and Shin Emperor. The Asia team replaces the Ladies team in the competition for 2025, recognising that female jockeys compete on a level playing field with their male counterparts.
Doyle, who will this year captain the Great Britain & Ireland team, said, “The Ladies team over the years has had great success, but the new changes that have been made, which include integrating the male and female jockeys on the same team, is a nice reminder that we as jockeys complete on a level playing field internationally.”
Dubai Duty Free's title sponsorship of the event is also continued for a 20th year, with £500,000 in prize-money on offer across the six-race card, as well as £25,000 in stable bonuses.
The participating jockeys announced so far are as follows:
Great Britain & Ireland
- Hollie Doyle (captain)
- Robbie Dolan
- TBC
Europe
- Per-Anders Gråberg (captain)
- Sibylle Vogt
- Dario Di Tocco
Asia
- Suraj Narredu (captain)
- Ryusei Sakai
- Mirai Iwata
Rest of the World
- Karis Teetan (captain)
- TBC
- TBC