Vincent Ho to lead Team Hong Kong in Shergar Cup
Vincent Ho returns to the Shergar Cup this Saturday for the first time since he played a pivotal role in his team’s overall success in 2019, but this year, Hong Kong’s homegrown hero will carry a unique sense of pride representing his home city.
Captain of the inaugural Team Hong Kong, featuring last season’s Tony Cruz Award winner (2025/26) Jerry Chau and South African young gun Luke Ferraris, the trio forms the trailblazing group from The Hong Kong Jockey Club who will face off with several of the world’s best jockeys in the four-team challenge – set for its 25th renewal at Ascot, located 40km to London’s west – against Great Britain & Ireland, Europe and the Rest of the World.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s the first time for Hong Kong and it’s huge. For us to be picked by The Hong Kong Jockey Club to represent Hong Kong is something very honourable and we’re really grateful for that,” Ho said.
“We’re all trying to go out there, be focused and really enjoy it – the racecourse, the atmosphere and we’re hoping to get on some good horses. It all depends on the horses now, but, of course, we’re coming up against some really good riders.”
Saffie Osborne will captain Great Britain & Ireland, which for the first time in 20 years includes four-time World’s Best Jockey (2014, 2016, 2021 & 2023) Ryan Moore, plus Dylan Browne McMonagle, who rode 10 winners in Hong Kong this year.
Christophe Lemaire captains Team Europe alongside Marie Velon and Frida Valle Skar, while the Rest of the World team features captain Jamie Melham from Australia, Japan’s Yutaka Take and Suraj Narredu, one of India’s most decorated jockeys.
“The world’s best jockey is here, Ryan Moore, and we all saw how good Dylan Browne McMonagle was when he came to Hong Kong. Then there’s Christophe Lemaire and Yutaka Take – a Japanese legend. Saffie Osborne is in form and doing well. They are experienced jockeys from around the world. We are looking forward to it,” Ho said.
A regular visitor to Great Britain between racing seasons, Ho has previously based himself with former trainer Mark Johnston at Middleham, North Yorkshire, honing his skills across the country and registering victories at Haydock Park and Pontefract, contributing to his initial Shergar Cup participation and success in 2019 with the Rest of the World team, when he surged to victory aboard Power Of Darkness in the Shergar Cup Mile.
Ho, 36, has won 648 races in Hong Kong after graduating from The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School. A 13-time Group 1 winner, including 10 with champion Golden Sixty, Ho has overcome injury setbacks in recent seasons before his resurgence last term, posting 38 winners, highlighted by a HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) success aboard four-year-old Little Paradise as well as four wins with 2025/26 Hong Kong Champion Griffin Hot Delight.
The Shergar Cup will see riders carry their team’s silks, where points are awarded to the first five horses over the line: 15 for first, 10 for second, seven for third, five for fourth and three for fifth. In addition, the Silver Saddle goes to the jockey who accumulates the most points.
The Shergar Cup is a six-race card – run under the World Pool banner – featuring the Shergar Cup Dash Handicap (1000m), Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap (3190m), Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap (2392m), Shergar Cup Sprint Handicap (1200m), Shergar Cup Classic Handicap (2392m) and Shergar Cup Mile Handicap (1594m).
