Europe just beat the Girls in Shegar Cup Olivier Peslier's performance helped Europe to defend the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup by just a point from an Emma-Jayne Wilson-inspired Girls team as the competition went right down to the wire at Ascot. Canadian Wilson lit up the event with her enthusiasm and charisma, and was cruelly denied the points for both the team and Silver Saddle leading individual rider awards by Peslier himself in the Classic. Having won two races already, Wilson dropped her stick in the closing stages and her mount Astronereus was beaten just a nose by Peslier and Our Gabrial (8-1), with the Frenchman's more consistent finishing across the board sealing the prizes after neither the Girls nor Europe could land a blow in the concluding Sprint. Europe ended up with 69 against the Girls on 68, although winning skipper Frankie Dettori was not exactly thrilled by his own role in the win. "What a captain I am," said the Italian wryly. "I'm different class! Three points and four of my horses lame." He added: "Thank goodness for the other two. But in truth we did have the most experienced team. And we just had to beat those girls. "Olivier has been my good friend for more than 20 years. Just a wonderful natural jockey, cooler than a cucumber when it mattered, as cool as an iceberg. "Adrie (de Vies) is so talented and as nice a guy as you will meet, and a world-class jockey, even if he isn't so well known here as Olivier. "But that's the great thing about the Shergar Cup, it gives people a chance to see these top riders. It's great fun for us and I hope is great fun to watch." Peslier said: "I'm very happy. It's been a competition everyone could follow until the end. Everything happened in the last race. I'm at Deauville tomorrow. So we'll enjoy today, and tomorrow's another day."
