I watched the 2025 Shergar Cup at Ascot last weekend, a mix of nostalgia and unease. On paper, this quirky team-based spectacle, with the fanfare it brings and international flair, was designed to be racing’s feel-good summer highlight. Twenty years ago, you could argue it was, and that people genuinely looked forward to it.

But this year, something felt off more so than ever before, and I think it’s been in decline for the past few years—cracks in the format, questionable jockey lineups, and a dip in the standard of runners.

Is it time to make this event bigger and better, with racing really committing to the format? Or quietly retire it?

Maureen Haggas Criticises Jockeys at Shergar Cup

Let’s start with the elephant in the room, trainer Maureen Haggas didn’t mince words. After watching Tenability win her race under French jockey Delphine Santiago, Haggas dismissed parts of the field as inexperienced.

“The standard of riding is not ‘as high as it should be’,” she commented. She acknowledged there were “some bloody good riders,” but the general feeling was that a couple of competitors “maybe shouldn’t be here”.

The Shergar Cup once prided itself on attracting top global talent, and when it came to the jockeys who used to take part, they were the main draw for fans. It wasn’t racing fans criticising with this either, it was someone heavily involved in the sport, and highly respected.

This year’s significant format change, which removed the iconic Ladies’ Team and replaced it with an Asia Team, was intended to be a step forward for the event.

With jockeys like Ryusei Sakai, Mirai Iwata, and Suraj Narredu as part of the team, Ascot hoped to send a message of equality and global relevance.

The move did spark headlines on the day as Narredu made history to be the first Indian jockey to win at Ascot, and his team won the event.

But when crowds are down, and British racing is in crisis, do Ascot need to be thinking about global relevance?

I think the continuation of the Racing League should also be taken into account here. That’s another event I’m not bothered about, but at the same time, remember when the Shergar Cup worked? It was the only team event, something that was a one-off on the calendar.

Now that the Racing League takes place over the summer, that can no longer be claimed by the Shergar Cup. I’m not saying the Racing League is better, but it does mean that the Shergar Cup cannot claim to be unique in racing.

Shergar Cup: Revamp or Retire?

If you ask me, the Shergar Cup feels like a relic in limbo, part fan fest, part racing showcase, with neither element quite living up to its promise.

It once stood out as a spirited, team-based Ryder Cup-style meeting for horse racing, but now it risks becoming a gimmicky sideshow.

British racing must commit one way or another. If Ascot wants to preserve the Shergar Cup, it must transform it into something truly spectacular, a flagship event combining elite jockeys and robust marketing. The event needs to be big enough that every jockey wants to ride in it, truly taking the meeting back to being the best of the best from around the world, taking each other on.

People often discuss strengthening the selection criteria, and I understand that. But at the same time, if we’re being completely honest, some of this year’s jockeys were only chosen because no one else ahead of them would commit.

On the other hand, if that level of reinvestment isn’t viable, maybe it’s time to retire the Shergar Cup with dignity. Let it go out on a relative high, before it becomes a footnote in the calendar.

I want to love the Shergar Cup, it has magic, history, and the potential to draw fresh audiences, as well as standing out as something completely different on a Saturday afternoon for genuine fans.

But right now, it’s a beautiful idea struggling to justify its place. Let’s either revamp it into something great or let it go with grace.