Ascot Ditches Ladies' Team for Asian Squad in Shergar Cup Shakeup

By Lewis Barnett 13 May, 2025 5 mins read 295 Views

God. I never thought I'd see the day. The Ladies' Team - GONE. Just like that. After dominating four of the last six Shergar Cups, the women's squad has been unceremoniously dropped from Ascot's popular jockey competition.

I was at last year's event when Hayley Turner (absolute legend) snatched victory by a short-head in teh final race. The champagne was flowing, the pink silks were everywhere, and now? Poof. History.

Hear the Summary

Why kick the winning team to the curb?

Ascot's explanation? "We feel now is the time to move away from a ladies-only team." That's it. No elaborate justification, no heartfelt tribute to what the team accomplished. Just... time to move on.

I texted an insider at Ascot yesterday who replied with: "Change was inevitable. The ladies proved their point." Did they though? Or did they prove they could consistently win?

Listen. I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. Hollie Doyle (who'll captain the Great Britain and Ireland team) called it a "nice reminder that we as jockeys compete on a level playing field internationally." Fair enough.

The New Kids from the East

So who's replacing the pink-silked champions? An Asian squad wearing red.

Japan's Ryusei Sakai is being billed as the "star attraction" thanks to his connection with Forever Young (currently the world's highest-rated horse). He'll be joined by fellow Japanese jockey Mirai Iwata, who's apparently tearing up Japan's jockey league.

The team captain? India's Suraj Narredu.

I spent $300 on tickets to last year's event and honestly, the Ladies' Team was a huge draw. My daughter wore a pink hat specifically to support them. Now I've got to explain why there's no women's team anymore...

Cash, Crowds, and Corporate Decisions

This year's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup (happening August 9th) will have £500,000 in prize money. That's serious cash.

Back in 2018, I interviewed Nick Smith (Ascot's Director of Racing) about the future of the competition, and he was full of praise for the Ladies' Team concept. "It's brought new audiences," he told me. "People who might not otherwise attend racing." His tune seems to have changed.

What about Hayley?

The timing feels... awkward. Hayley Turner, the face of the Ladies' Team for years, just announced her retirement AND her pregnancy. Talk about life changes! She won't be there to defend the title anyway, but still.

I remember watching her spray champagne over Emma-Jayne Wilson after one of their victories. Pure joy.

Now the pink silks are being replaced by red ones. Progress? Maybe. A bit sad? Definitely.

The uncomfortable question nobody's asking

Is this about expanding the international appeal of the event... or is it about the fact that the Ladies' Team was just too dominant? Four wins in six years is pretty embarrassing for the guys.

Just saying.

At least Hollie Doyle seems positive about it. As Britain's most successful female jockey, her opinion carries weight. And she'll still be there, just under a different banner.

The 2025 Shergar Cup will feature teams from Great Britain and Ireland, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World. Eight different countries represented so far.

I'll still go. Probably. But my daughter's pink hat might stay in the closet this time.

Betting on Change

If you're planning to attend or have a flutter on the event, the usual responsible gambling notices apply. Set limits, only bet what you can afford to lose, and don't chase losses... you know the drill.

But whatever you do, don't bet on seeing the Ladies' Team make a comeback anytime soon. That ship has sailed, carrying with it a legacy of pink silks and champagne celebrations.

Progress is messy sometimes.

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How To

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