The lineup for the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has been finalised, with an accomplished mix of established champions and rising stars set to compete at Ascot on Saturday, August 8. Ryan Moore returns to the international team event alongside Dylan Browne McMonagle and Saffie Osborne, while Indian jockey Suraj Narredu will once again represent the Rest of the World team.
2026 Shergar Cup jockeys.
One of racing’s most recognisable names, Ryan Moore brings unrivalled experience to the Great Britain & Ireland side. The multiple Group 1-winning rider has enjoyed another outstanding season, adding seven Royal Ascot victories to secure his 13th Leading Jockey title. Moore has previous Shergar Cup success to his name, having claimed the Silver Saddle during his only previous appearance in the competition back in 2006.
Joining him is Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, whose profile has continued to grow over the past two seasons. The 23-year-old has enjoyed notable international success, including a Breeders’ Cup Turf triumph with Ethical Diamond last year before completing Classic victories in both the Oaks and Irish Oaks this season. His successful riding stint in Hong Kong earlier this year further underlined his rapid progress.
Saffie Osborne captains the Great Britain & Ireland team after an impressive debut in the event in 2023, when she partnered two winners. The 24-year-old arrives in excellent form following a memorable treble at Ascot’s King George meeting, continuing a productive campaign on home soil.
Recent performances suggest the home team enters the contest with considerable momentum. Moore finished as the leading rider at last week’s Goodwood Festival with five winners, Browne McMonagle followed closely with four victories, while Osborne also enjoyed a productive week with two winners.
The international challenge will once again be strong. Vincent Ho captains the newly introduced Hong Kong team, joined by Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris, both of whom will make their Shergar Cup debuts.
Australia’s Jamie Melham leads the Rest of the World team, which also features Japanese riding legend Yutaka Take and Indian star Suraj Narredu. Narredu made a successful first appearance in the competition last year and returns hoping to build on that encouraging debut against another high-quality international field.
Europe’s challenge will be spearheaded by Christophe Lemaire, with French rider Marie Velon returning for a second appearance and Norwegian jockey Frida Valle Skar completing the trio.
The 2026 Shergar Cup jockeys represent four teams, each competing for points across the day’s races rather than individual honours alone. The event remains one of the few occasions in Flat racing where team tactics and international rivalry take centre stage, bringing together elite riders from several of the sport’s leading jurisdictions.
With the rider line-up now complete, attention turns to Ascot, where an international cast of leading jockeys will compete for team honours in one of the sport’s most distinctive fixtures. The presence of champions such as Ryan Moore, Yutaka Take and Christophe Lemaire, together with emerging talents and returning contenders like Suraj Narredu, adds further depth to this year’s contest.