IT has taken some time for the Shergar Cup to be appreciated for what it is: a good day’s competition on the racetrack, showcasing different riding talents, attracting a wider audience to racing than many of the usual Saturday meetings at Ascot.

Now that it has proved its worth, perhaps it’s time to look at having a similar day in this country.

It doesn’t need a rest of the world team, we have enough of our own home grown stars to make it interesting and competitive. To raise funds for a charity could be the goal as well as attempting to attract wider publicity to racing.

Racing supports its own, we’ve seen that already, but it also needs outside support, and no more so than through sponsorship. Take away bookmakers and the Tote sponsored races and there is a gaping hole compared to sponsorship in other sports.

For a new venture, try four teams, a flat jockeys team, a National Hunt, an amateur riders and a girls team, comprising three riders over the course of the afternoon. We already have mixed cards, the format of the races could be worked out. We heard Robert Hall say Nina Carberry could have been riding the finish of the Nunthorpe on Sweet Company at Galway. Let’s try a five-furlong sprint for the amateurs.

Try pulling in a sponsor for each team, brand their gear, give away vouchers for their products to those in attendance. Lidl have done an excellent promotion with the Ladies GAA. There has to be potential to create a high level of interest in it as a one off event.