Mark Zahra in Shergar Cup win at Ascot
Mark Zahra has helped the Rest of the World team to win the Shergar Cup jockeys event at Ascot.
Melbourne’s Mark Zahra has ridden a winner at Ascot to help the Rest of the World team to victory in the Shergar Cup jockeys’ challenge.
Hayley Turner, the captain of the Girls team, took individual riding honours with two winners and a second for 40 points, five more than Zahra, but that was not enough to secure the Cup.
Zahra won aboard the James Given-trained Indianapolis while teammate Vincent Ho from Hong Kong was successful on Power of Darkness.
“It’s a great feeling. I’ve wanted to do it for a long time,” Zahra said.
Ho has been spending time in Britain with trainer Mark Johnston during the Hong Kong off-season and said he was honoured to be part of the event.
“It is like a dream come true.,” he said.
“I never even imagined myself riding at Ascot, and to get a chance here and then have a winner is a dream.
“It is just amazing to be at the Shergar Cup because the atmosphere is great and you are racing against some of the top jockeys in the world.
“We will see what the people in Hong Kong make of it, but hopefully my parents are happy.”