Wilson will captain jockey team in Shergar Cup at Ascot

Emma-Jayne Wilson will return to Ascot in August to participate in the Shergar Cup jockey challenge after being named captain of the girls’ team for the second year in a row.

Wilson’s team finished second by a point to Team Europe in the 2014 Shergar Cup, and Wilson finished second in the race for the Silver Saddle, two points behind Olivier Peslier. She finished the challenge with two wins and a close second in five mounts.

“It was kind of exciting to be able to have such a good event last year in my first year as a captain,” Wilson said. “To be invited back to fill the role again is a big honor, so I guess I did a good job.”

Wilson said she likely will travel to England shortly after Woodbine’s holiday Monday card Aug. 3 to compete in the Shergar Cup on Aug. 8. With no card scheduled for Aug. 5, Wilson will miss only two days of racing at Woodbine before returning to ride the Aug. 9 card.

“They need me to commit for the media stuff, which is on the Thursday,” she said. “In the past, I’ve gone there a little earlier and spent a little bit of time in England and had a bit of a holiday. It works out where I can go a little longer without worrying about missing racing at home.”

Wilson has gotten off to a quick start in 2015 at Woodbine, sitting in a tie for second in the jockeys’ standings with four wins and finishing in the money in 77 percent of her starts. She also has had success in her three stakes mounts, with a win on Serious Talk in the Woodstock Stakes and two second-place finishes.

Wilson credits her agent, Mike Luider, for providing her with good mounts.

“One thing that we have been working on is quality over quantity, and it’s kind of paying off this year,” Wilson said. “We’ve really started the meet positively.”