The 2026 Shergar Cup came to a close with plenty for Hong Kong racing fans to celebrate. For the first time, the Hong Kong Jockey Club fielded a dedicated Team Hong Kong, captained by Vincent Ho and completed by Jerry Chau and Luke Ferraris. The trio rose to the occasion against a star-studded international line-up, combining for two victories and helping Team Hong Kong finish runner-up with 62 points — an impressive result on the team’s Shergar Cup debut.
The highlight for Team Hong Kong was undoubtedly its flying start, with victories in each of the opening two races. In the 1000m Shergar Cup Dash Handicap, Jerry Chau, making both his Shergar Cup and Ascot debut, patiently guided Tuco Salamanca through the field before producing a powerful late burst to score. Team captain Vincent Ho made the result even more memorable by finishing second aboard Gold Star Hero, giving Hong Kong a one-two in the opening race and an immediate haul of 25 points. For Chau, winning on his first appearance at Ascot marked another significant milestone in his riding career.
There was more to come just 35 minutes later. Luke Ferraris, also competing in the Shergar Cup for the first time, struck aboard Dancing In Paris in the 3190m Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap. Ferraris positioned his mount prominently before timing his challenge to perfection and securing another 15 points for Hong Kong. His performance was later recognised as the Shergar Cup’s Ride of the Day. With Chau and Ferraris both winning on their Shergar Cup debuts, Team Hong Kong had accumulated 40 points after only two races and established an early lead in the competition.
Although Team Great Britain & Ireland began to fight back strongly as the meeting progressed, Hong Kong continued to add valuable points. Vincent Ho finished fourth aboard Frances Ethel in the Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap to collect another five points. Chau then produced another excellent effort in the Shergar Cup Sprint Handicap, finishing second aboard the well-fancied Thunder Call for another ten points. He followed that with third place aboard Baltic Fleet in the Shergar Cup Classic Handicap, adding a further seven points. Chau therefore ended the meeting with a win, a second and a third, underlining the consistency of his performance throughout the afternoon.
Team Great Britain & Ireland eventually proved too strong. Ryan Moore won both the Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap aboard Asgard’s Captain and the Shergar Cup Classic Handicap aboard Archers Bay, while team captain Saffie Osborne also contributed a victory. Moore finished the meeting with 47 points to claim the Silver Saddle as leading rider, while Team Great Britain & Ireland topped the standings with 81 points. Team Hong Kong and Team Europe both finished on 62 points, with Hong Kong taking second place by virtue of having recorded two race wins.
While Team Hong Kong narrowly missed out on lifting the trophy, its first appearance in the competition could hardly be described as anything other than a success. Ho provided experience and leadership as captain and contributed important points with his second and fourth placings. Chau made an immediate impression at Ascot, winning on his first ride at the course before adding two more placings, while 24-year-old Ferraris also made his Shergar Cup debut a winning one and collected the Ride of the Day award. The performances of Chau and Ferraris were particularly encouraging, with both young Hong Kong-based riders showing that they were more than capable of competing successfully against some of the world’s leading jockeys.
The Shergar Cup trophy ultimately went to Team Great Britain & Ireland, but there were still plenty of memorable moments for Hong Kong racing fans: Chau winning the opening race with Ho completing a Hong Kong one-two, followed immediately by Ferraris striking in the second leg. Two victories, second place in the overall team standings and the Ride of the Day award represented an excellent return from Team Hong Kong’s inaugural Shergar Cup campaign — and ensured that its first visit to Ascot was one to remember.
Photo Source: Hong Kong Jockey Club