Turner In Line For Swedish Comeback

Hayley Turner, a former multiple Group 1 winning jockey and now a racing pundit for both ITV Racing and At The Races is set to return to the saddle for the inaugural Lady Jockeys' Thoroughbred World Championship, presented by Chess Racing, at Bro Park in Stockholm, Sweden July 4. “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,” said Turner. “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,” she added. The line-up of ten international female riders represents four continents; Asia, Europe, North America and Australasia with six from Europe including Maryline Eon, who recently became the first female to ride in the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly earlier this month, Ana O'Brien, Sammy Jo Bell, Stefanie Hofer from Germany, Fanny Olsson from Sweden and Sara Slot from Denmark. Chantal Sutherland, who rode a winner on the opening day at Bro Park last year, will represent America while Kei Chiong, a leading Hong Kong based apprentice 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 backing of leading Scandinavian owner and breeder Benny Andersson, who commented, “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.”