Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: The Girls team profiles

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: Wilson, who won the inaugural Pimlico Female Jockey Challenge in June, 2011, is making her fourth appearance at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, having participated in the competition in 2006, 2012 and 2014 when the Girls came within one point of winning the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup and she just missed out on the Silver Saddle Award for leading rider.

Previous Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup wins (2): 2014 Retirement Plan, 2014 Don’t Call Me.

Hayley Turner (England)
Background: Hayley Turner, the joint champion UK apprentice in 2005, is the most successful female jockey in British racing history. Turner was taught to ride by her mother, a riding instructor. She started riding out for local trainer Mark Polglase, who supplied her first winner, Generate, at Pontefract on June 4th, 2000. She also attended the Northern Racing College, and then was apprenticed to Michael Bell in Newmarket. She spent 13 years riding for Bell until a split was announced in June, 2013. She has had no luck with injuries subsequently, breaking her left ankle in a Yarmouth fall on July 25th last year. Shortly after making her comeback, she had another fall, this time at Doncaster on September 12th, chipped her pelvis and had three fractures in her back. She returned to action in December, 2013.

Accolades: Turner became the first woman to be crowned champion apprentice when partnering 44 winners during the 2005 Flat (turf) season, sharing the title with Saleem Golam. She also became only the fourth woman in Britain to ride out her apprentice claim, following Emma O’Gorman, Alex Greaves and Lisa Jones. Her success during the 2005 season led to Turner being awarded a Lester for apprentice jockey of the year, the first woman ever to gain that accolade. In 2008, she became the first female jockey to partner 100 winners in a calendar year in Britain. Her total number of winners is approaching 700 and she has ridden in the Derby.

Big-Race Wins: Turner’s first Group One victory came in July, 2011, aboard the David Simcock-trained Dream Ahead in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket and she enjoyed further Group One success when the Bell-trained Margot Did captured the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes York the following month. She is only the second woman to have ridden a Group One winner in Britain and the first to win one outright as Alex Greaves’ success came when her mount Ya Malak dead-heated with Coastal Bluff for the 1997 Nunthorpe Stakes. In 2012, she enjoyed a Grade One victory on the international stage when the Simcock-trained I’m A Dreamer landed the Beverly D Stakes at Arlington, USA.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup: She has ridden at the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup on eight occasions (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014) and captained the GBR team in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Wins (4): 2007 Relative Order; 2008 Gee Dee Nen; 2009 Noverre To Go.

Sammy Jo Bell (Northern Ireland)
Background: Raised in Ballyclare, County Antrim. Her mother, Jacqueline, rode in several point-to-points. She grew up around horses and spent six months working for trainer Jim Bolger after leaving school. Subsequently moved on to the stables Kevin Prendergast, where she worked for three and a half years. Enjoyed a first winner on just her third ride as the Prendergast-trained Celtic Dane scored by a short-head in a Leopardstown handicap on March 27th, 2011. Partnered 10 winners in Ireland before moving to the UK at the start of 2013 to ride for North Yorkshire trainer Richard Fahey, in search of greater opportunities. Recorded a first success in Britain on board Shot In The Sun in a maiden at Beverley on July 6th, 2013. Has ridden 22 winners this year (up to and including the racing of Monday, August 3) and is narrowly behind Cam Hardie, who leads the race for this year’s champion apprentice title. Rides under the name on her birth certificate – Samantha Bell – but is known universally as Sammy Jo Bell. Late substitute for the injured Cathy Gannon in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup at Ascot on Saturday, August 8th. She is currently eligible to claim 3lb.

Accolades: Shortlisted for Sky Sports sportswoman of the month for June, 2015, when she had 11 winners, alongside Olympic champions Nicola Adams and Jade Jones; also made the shortlist for the Stobart Jockey of the Month Award in association with Channel 4 for the same period.

Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup debut.