Retired jockey Hayley Turner will make a one-day comeback to replace the injured Michelle Payne in the Shergar Cup at Ascot.
Britain’s most successful female rider called time on her career last year but answered the call to join the girls team at the annual international jockeys’ competition.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Payne had been due to compete in the August 6 event but is sidelined for an indefinite period after suffering abdominal injuries in a race fall.
Her injury left a space in the team alongside Canadian Emma-Jayne Wilson and Cathy Gannon, who is also out of action for the moment having broken all five toes in a foot.
Turner will now fill the void and is hoping the girls team can complete back-to-back victories after a first success in 2015.
“It’s a real shame that Michelle Payne is unable to join the team and I wish her a speedy recovery,” Turner said.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and hope myself, Emma-Jayne and Cathy Gannon can recreate the magic of our team’s victory from last year.”
Nick Smith, director of racing and communications at Ascot, said he was happy to see Turner back, albeit briefly.
“British racegoers were going to see a new female legend in Michelle Payne and we are very fortunate that such is Hayley’s passion for the event, they are instead going to get a rare, and possibly last chance to see her ride competitively under formal rules again,” he said.
“It’s incredibly bad luck on Michelle that she suffered such a serious injury. We were very much looking forward to welcoming her to the UK – something that had been planned from the day after her Melbourne Cup victory.”
