Australian jockey Luke Nolen rode a winner at Ascot on Saturday but it wasn't enough to lift the Rest of the World team from third place in the Shergar Cup.The Irish team retained the trophy after a battle with Europe which came down to the last of the six designated races.Nolen, who won his first Melbourne premiership last season, steered the Andrew Balding-trained Set The Trend to victory in the Shergar Cup Mile.The Europe and Great Britain teams won two races each but Ireland picked up more p

Australian jockey Luke Nolen rode a winner at Ascot on Saturday but it wasn't enough to lift the Rest of the World team from third place in the Shergar Cup.

The Irish team retained the trophy after a battle with Europe which came down to the last of the six designated races.

Nolen, who won his first Melbourne premiership last season, steered the Andrew Balding-trained Set The Trend to victory in the Shergar Cup Mile.

The Europe and Great Britain teams won two races each but Ireland picked up more points from their placed efforts and amassed a total of 80, with Europe on 72, the Rest Of The World 45 and Great Britain on 43.

Irish team member Fran Berry secured the Silver Saddle for the leading individual rider including victory on another Balding runner, Bernie The Bolt, in the Shergar Cup Stayers.

The meeting has tended to be treated with at least indifference if not derision by the traditionalists but from a commercial point of view it must be regarded as a success.

Organisers believe the fact it is all over in an afternoon makes it a format easier to understand for novice racegoers and a sold-out premier enclosure, with many younger faces turning up, shows it has certainly been promoted in the right avenues.

Two trainers, Mark Johnston and Balding, dominated the competition with two winners each but held rather differing views on it.

Johnston ran 14 horses overall and managed a one-two-three in the International Shergar Cup Challenge.

"The owners don't run for a free lunch and there is a lot of prize money on offer for a limited field, so that's why we're here," Johnston said.

"The team competition doesn't appeal to me - I am struggling to tell the colours apart - and while the turnout is wonderful, I'm wondering why they are here, whether it is for the post-racing concert or what."

More encouraging is Balding and his pair could now help the Kingsclere trainer bid for both legs of the Newmarket Autumn Double.

"It particularly suited Bernie The Bolt, as it is tough to find races for horses rated in the mid-90s.

"The Cesarewitch is very much the target."