Hollie Doyle captains the Great Britain and Ireland team with a change of format for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup.

Ascot racecourse announced this morning that there will be a change of teams for the popular Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, which will take place this year on Saturday 9th of August.

With £500,000 in prize money and an added £25,000 in stable bonuses, we can be assured of a competitive six-race card which should again attract a huge crowd, with more than 27,500 attending in 2024, an increase on 2023 and second only to the Royal Ascot meeting.

Hollie Doyle, who broke the record for most winners ridden by a female jockey in Britain on board the Sean Woods trained Brindavan last weekend, will captain the Great Britain & Ireland team, which also includes Irish born Melbourne Cup winner Robbie Dolan, who is now based in Australia.

The Ladies team has been replaced by an Asian squad this year as racing recognises that female jockeys compete on a level playing field, evidenced by their team winning four of the last six renewals. Ryusei Sakai will be their star attraction, best known in Europe for his rides on Saudi Cup winner Forever Young and Japan Cup second Shin Emperor, and the Japanese star will be joined by compatriot and winner of the World All-Star Jockeys title in 2023 Miraj Iwata but led by Indian Suraj Narredu - they will wear red silks, replacing the pink previously worn by the Ladies.

Ten-time Swedish Champion Per-Anders Graberg will take charge of the European team, his first appearance in the Shergar Cup since 2018, with Switzerland's Sibylle Vogt, the first female ride to win the German 1000 Guineas in 2021, and Italy's Derby Italiano winning jockey Dario Di Tocco in his squad.

Popular Hong Kong based Mauritian Karis Teetan, who has ridden superstars Romantic Warrior and Ka Ying rising, will captain the Rest Of The World team, with the remaining jockeys to be named nearer to race day.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse said

"We're pleased to have secured top talent from across the world to compete at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup with at least eight different countries set to be represented already."

"We feel now is the time to move away from a Ladies only team, and this new evolution of the format keeps the event fresh."

Great Britain & Ireland captain, Hollie Doyle, added:

"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."

After racing, the ever-popular concert will get underway, with the 2025 headliner confirmed as Perrie, supported by Joel Corry and Marvin Humes.