Silver lining again for jockey Turner

HAYLEY Turner stole the show at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for the second year in succession as two winners and a second at Ascot helped her defend her title as the leading jockey at the popular meeting.

A year ago, the multiple Group One-winning pilot led the Girls Team to win the Shergar Cup itself and beat Brazilian ace Joao Moreira by one point to claim the Alistair Haggis Silver Saddle.

Twelve months on, the Girls had to settle for minor honours in the overall competition as the Rest Of The World Team won with 86 points, ahead of Team Europe and the Girls on 63 and Great Britain and Ireland on 28.

However, Turner still managed to become the first jockey in Shergar Cup history to claim the Silver Saddle in successive years with 40 points, five clear of Australian Mark Zahra on 35.

Turner said: “Alistair Haggas was the one who created this whole event and he got me involved, which has been a big boost to my career. Sadly he is no longer with us but it is lovely to win his Silver Saddle trophy for the second time.

“I can’t believe I won the Silver Saddle again. It’s a massive thrill. This event means so much to me. I really enjoy it and it’s great because all my family are here as well.”

Turner called time on her riding career in 2015, only to return to the saddle last year.

She added: “I needed a break and I don’t regret retiring. I am certainly glad that I decided to come back.”

Meanwhile, away from the razzmatazz of the Shergar Cup, Royal Ascot winner Addeybb got back on the winning trail with a decisive success in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

Following an impressive display in the Wolferton Stakes in June, the William Haggas-trained five-year-old was a well-backed favourite to follow up in last month’s Sky Bet York Stakes but had to make do with the runners-up spot behind Elarqam.

Encountering his favoured testing conditions once again on Merseyside, Addeybb was the 11-10 favourite for a 10-furlong contest rendered a little less competitive by the withdrawal of the prolific Wissahickon and tracked Raise You from the off.

As the pace increased, Addeybb gradually asserted his authority halfway up the home straight and found plenty for pressure in the hands of Richard Kingscote to prevail by two and a quarter lengths. Pondus beat Raise You to the runner-up spot.

Haggas said: “I was delighted the rain came as he is a very hard horse to beat in that very heavy ground.”

Addeybb was left at 20-1 for the Juddmonte International at York on August 21 by Paddy Power but they trimmed his odds for the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October to 10-1 from 12s.