Rest Of The World team win Shergar Cup

The Rest of the World appeared to have the competition sewn up before the final race as Aaron Gryder and Viking Storm (5-1) got the better of Johnny Murtagh and Ittirad in the Michael Page International Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap.

The lead over Europe became an ominous 74-47.

It barely mattered that Rest of the World's Matthew Chadwick finished off the day when helping Mince (6-1) clear away in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint.

The Hong Kong jockey sealed the Silver Saddle for leading rider, while his team finished on 89, ahead of Europe (54), the Girls team (54) and Great Britain & Ireland (46).

Probably the most useful horse in action on the day was Sun Central, who stamped his authority on the Titanic Belfast Shergar Cup Classic.

The 2-1 favourite is held in high regard by trainer William Haggas and James Doyle, making his debut for the Great Britain & Ireland squad, produced him down the wide outside to pull a length ahead of Ahzeemah.

"It was an honour to be asked to ride and I thought if I'd have a winner today it would be this horse," said Doyle.

Haggas said: "This is going to be a very nice stayer, and he was beaten by a good horse in Gospel Choir (winner at Haydock earlier in the day) here last time.

"He loves fast ground and he's by Galileo and a half-brother to George Washington and Grandera, so you can put him in the smart list.

"He might have just one more run this season, back here on September 8th."

The Rest of the World still kept their top spot on 59 from Europe on 42.

Cristian Demuro, younger brother of the more familiar Mirco, gave every impression he is a name to note for the future when poking Desert Law (11-2) just in front for the Barclays Shergar Cup Dash.

Even though it was another victory for Europe, it had little effect on the score as the Rest of the World's Taajub and Ahtoug were a respective short head and neck behind in second and third.

They still lead Europe 49-37.

"It's unbelievable - my first rides in England and in Ascot," said the 20-year-old Demuro.

"It's so big here - in Italy it's not possible,"

Trainer Andrew Balding had a more practical reason to applaud the Shergar Cup meeting.

He said: "It helps horses like this who have been a bit unlucky and have to run in 20-runner heritage handicaps when they can run in a smaller field.

"I think this horse will be around for a while and might go back to Bath for the conditions race he won last year."

Demuro was, however, hit with a four-day ban (August 25-28) for using his whip above the permitted level.

Canadian Chantal Sutherland was given the same suspension for her ride on the seventh-placed Astral Thunder in the second race.

Europe struck back as Andreas Suborics celebrated his 41st birthday when Address Unknown won the Redstone Shergar Cup Stayers.

The experienced German has ridden in the competition three times before but this was his first success on the Berkshire soil.

Suborics kept the 9-2 favourite handy before producing a strong challenge to get past long-time leader Woolfall Treasure and secure the prize by half a length.

"It's an amazing day, there's a great atmosphere," said Suborics.

"When I looked at the paper in the morning I thought I had a good ride in the second race.

"He was always in the perfect place."

Trainer Ian Williams said: "We won this race last year with Ile De Re, and the prize-money is very good.

"He ran well here before and I was hoping he might get into the Ebor, but I don't think he will - even with a penalty."

Europe's victory propelled them into second place on 22 - 10 points behind the Rest of the World.

Kieren Fallon demonstrated his reputation as among the world's finest jockeys with a virtuoso performance aboard Boom And Bust in the Les Ambassadeurs Casino Shergar Cup Mile.

The captain of the United Kingdom and Ireland side in Ascot's team riding competition had landed a plum opening mount on Marcus Tregoning's 3-1 favourite, who looked to be returning to his best last time at Goodwood.

He was soon pushed to the front by Fallon and never looked back, thwarting the late challenge of Trade Storm by a neck.

"I got an easy lead and I was told beforehand that he wouldn't stop trying. It's a good start," said Fallon.

Tregoning said: "He gets on well with Hayley Turner, but Kieren was a great substitute. The horse is entered in a few big handicaps, so we'll have to have a think."

Because of a quirk in the scoring, even though the Rest of the World's Stevie Thunder was withdrawn at the start, they lead Fallon's side 19-18.