Hong Kong-based jockey Karis Teetan is set to fulfil a long-held ambition this weekend as he makes his Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut at Ascot – and will do so as captain of the Rest of the World team.
The annual team competition, held at the iconic Berkshire track on Saturday (9 August), pits four teams of international jockeys against one another in a unique format. Alongside Teetan in the Rest of the World team is fellow Shergar Cup debutant Katie Davis (USA) and Hong Kong colleague Hugh Bowman, who returns to the Shergar Cup for a third time, having first competed in the event in 2007 when he captained the Rest of the World team to victory and claimed the Silver Saddle, awarded to the jockey who scores most points in the competition.
For Teetan, who has become one of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's leading lights since relocating from Mauritius in 2013, this weekend marks another milestone in his glittering international career.
"It will be my first time," he said. "Of course, it's an event that I've always wanted to take part in. You get to meet different kinds of riders from around the world, and from what Vincent [Ho] has said before, you can pick up a lot of little tips from everybody.
"Riding at Ascot will be amazing. That's something that I'm looking forward to. I'm gonna enjoy it and make the most of it."
The Shergar Cup, named in honour of the 1981 Derby winner, is a six-race showdown, with jockeys representing Rest of the World, Great Britain & Ireland, Europe and Asia. Points are awarded for placings in each race, with the team accumulating the highest total crowned overall champions.
Other star names competing in this year's edition include Italy's champion jockey Dario Di Tocco and leading Japanese rider Ryusei Sakai. Great Britain & Ireland will be led by Hollie Doyle, who is making her fourth appearance at the annual extravaganza.
Teetan's teammate Bowman brings valuable Shergar Cup experience to the Rest of the World team, as well as the prestige of a glittering CV that includes victories in the Golden Slipper, Cox Plate and more than 100 Group 1 victories worldwide.
For both riders, international events like the Shergar Cup provide a rare opportunity to test themselves in a team environment, something Teetan values highly.
"I've ridden in the one we have here [LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship] and I've ridden in the World All-Star Jockeys [in Japan]," he said. "These jockey challenges are great events. The clubs should get a lot of credit for putting these world-class jockeys together, and they're great events for the public."
Teetan will come into the weekend in fine form, having notched 44 wins during the recently concluded Hong Kong season, while Bowman was also among the leading riders in the territory during 2024/25.
With a strong blend of experience, form and international flair, the Rest of the World team, led by a proud and enthusiastic Teetan, will aim to make their mark on what promises to be a thrilling day at Ascot.
