Stevens to Lead 'World' Team in Shergar Cup
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Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens departed Aug. 7 for England where he will captain the "Rest of the World" team for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup international jockey competition at Ascot Aug. 10.
Stevens' teammates are Japanese star Yosunari Iwatu and Brazil's Joao Moreira, currently topping the standings in Singapore. Rosie Napravnik is the U.S. representative on a Women's Team that includes Hayley Turner of England and Lisa Alpress of New Zealand. Teams from England and Ireland are still to be announced.
Chantal Sutherland took part in the Shergar Cup in 2012 and came out of it assessed a four-day suspension for infractions of use of whip rules in England. She received a deferment of the penalty so she could ride Game On Dude to a runner-up finish in the Pacific Classic (gr. I).
Stevens, 50, returned earlier this year after a seven-year retirement and made a world-wide impression winning the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) aboard Oxbow for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Stevens ranks fifth in victories for the Del Mar meeting but first for winning percentage, having notched 11 wins from 35 mounts (31%).
Stevens is no stranger to racing in England, having spent the summer of 1999 as stable rider for Sir Michael Stoute, and has experience in the Shergar Cup. "It's an honor to be invited back, and I'm very excited about it," Stevens said in a press release.
Craig O'Bryan, Stevens' agent, said Stevens would return to riding at Del Mar Aug. 14.