Hugh Bowman won leading rider honours at the Shergar Cup for the second time at Ascot on Saturday with a winner and two placings.

The 45-year-old went over to the Shergar Cup – a team-based event for riders from around the globe – alongside Karis Teetan to represent the Rest of the World team with US jockey Katie Davis.

Bowman made his Shergar Cup debut in 2007, winning his first Silver Saddle, and 18 years later he made the best possible start when riding the Richard Fahey-trained Vintage Clarets to success in the Class Two Shergar Cup Dash (1,000m).

He was followed home by Teetan in third aboard Venture Capital, and his Mauritian teammate almost joined him in the winner’s enclosure when Almuhit finished second in the next race, the Class Two Shergar Cup Stayers (3,200m).

Bowman almost doubled his tally when La Pulga rallied gamely into second in the Class Two Shergar Cup Challenge (2,400m), before clinching the Silver Saddle with a third-place finish on Urban Lion in the Class Two Shergar Cup Mile (1,600m).

The Australian ended the day with 32 points, beating Sweden’s Per-Anders Graberg by six points and Japanese rider Ryusei Sakai by seven.

“I’m very proud to win the saddle again. It’s great to see the racegoers come and support the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup because it is a wonderful annual event. It’s recognised globally and it’s great to be a part of it,” Bowman told the Racing Post.

“I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to ride here this year, representing the Rest of the World team, and to be back at the Royal Ascot track, it’s hallowed ground, it’s an honour.”

“It certainly helps, because it is a unique track. When you ride here, regardless of the occasion, there’s a sense of pride and a sense of occasion. So it’s a very testing track for horse and rider, and having been here before certainly helps.”

Matthew Poon finishes third on his maiden British ride

Matthew Poon Ming-fai had his first ride in Britain last Thursday and almost made it a winning one when finishing third on the Alice Haynes-trained Twist Or Stick at Chelmsford.

Sent off a 17-2 chance, Poon set out to make all the running on the two-year-old and was only collared in the final 200m.

Poon will fly home this week after spending most his time based with Haynes in Newmarket. Vincent Ho Chak-yiu, Ellis Wong Chi-wang and Angus Chung Yik-lai have also been in Britain in recent weeks.

Exciting new recruits land in Hong Kong

Group One Irish Derby (2,400m) second Serious Contender will continue his career in Hong Kong and will be trained by Danny Shum Chap-shing.

The exciting son of Wootton Bassett was trained by Aidan O’Brien in six career starts to date and also finished second in a Royal Ascot handicap.

Including Serious Contender, there are eight British and Irish imports joining the ranks, with Class Two Golden Gates Handicap (2,000m) second Seraph Gabriel another exciting recruit heading to David Eustace.