SA’s new Champion Jockey S’manga Khumalo visited Mary Slack’s Abington Place at Newmarket on Thursday ahead of his UK debut in Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup to be staged at Ascot in London.

‘Bling’ took in the beautiful surroundings near Mike de Kock’s training base with his agent Justin Vermaak (left) and assistant trainer Steven Jell. He is looking forward to pitting his skills against the likes of Richard Hughes, Frankie Dettori, Hayley Turner and Tom Queally – on their home turf this time and in front of British racegoers who have been well informed of the South African sensation and are keen to see him in action.

Great Britain and Ireland were installed as red-hot favourites to land the team spoils in after the draw for the Shergar Cup was announced on Thursday, reports Racing Post.

Winning Post, official bookmakers to the event, made the Tom Queally-captained English trio 11-8 market leader following Thursday’s declarations.  Europe could be backed at 13-8, Rest of the World at 4-1, with the Girls the outsider of the quartet at 13-2.

Points are scored based on finishing position, with the team to have accumulated the highest score across the six-race card declared the winner.

The South Afrian’s carded mounts, with their trainers and early betting in brackets, are:

Race 1: Shergar Cup Dash, 1000m:
Bondesire (David O’Meara) – 12-1

Race 2: Shergar Cup Stayers: 3200m
Big Thunder (Sir Mark Prescott), 7-1

Race 4: Shergar Cup Mile: 1600m
Tenor (John Ryan), 13-2

Race 5: Shergar Cup Classic: 2000m
Trip To Paris (Ed Dunlop) 11-2

 Race 6: Shergar Cup Sprint: 1200m
No Leaf Clover (Ollie Pears) 12-1

Photos courtesy of Wilgerbosdrift Stud.