Agencies
London
A teenager made history as the first British jockey to compete in a major event wearing a hijab on Thursday, winning a "fairytale” victory on Ladies’ Day of Qatar Goodwood Festival (QGF) at the famed Goodwood racecourse.
Khadijah Mellah beamed and shared a high-five with another rider after crossing the finish line on her horse Haverland ahead of 11 other female jockeys.
The 18-year-old from a deprived south London neighbourhood had never sat on a racehorse until April and described her victory in the Magnolia Cup, a charity race for non-professional jockeys, as a "fairytale win”.
Mellah, who competed against riders including former Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton and presenter Vogue Williams, said before the race it was "crazy” that she was the first female Muslim jockey in British competitive horse racing.
Among 12 runners, Mellah gave the Charlie Fellowes-trained Haverland a well-timed run to win the 1100m run and score narrowly from Land Filly, ridden by Alexis Green, and Clewbrious Company, the mount of Rachael Gowland.
Khadijah said, "There are no words to describe this – I’m lost for words. I’m still trying to figure out how it all happened, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has come along to support.”
Mellah first began riding seven years ago after discovering Ebony Horse, a community riding centre.
Her preparation to take part in the high-profile race was captured in a documentary called "Riding a Dream” which will be broadcast in autumn.
Mellah, who will start university in autumn, said she had "a couple of sleepless nights” as she prepared for the race.
"I want to be a role model to anyone who wants to do something that they wouldn’t initially believe was in their comfort zone and allow people to follow their aspirations,” she said.
The British-based Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation said it was "worrying” it had taken so long to reach the milestone, but Mellah was blazing a trail for others.
"It’s important because we need role models for young Muslim girls especially,” spokeswoman Anira Khokhar told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
"When you have people like Khadijah ... it’s phenomenal – it shows there are no barriers and there are no boundaries.”
Thrill continues on Day 3
The events of Qatar Goodwood Festival in its 2019 renewal continued on day three of the five-day festival, which had its own glamour being the Ladies’ Day. Besides, the Magnolia Cup, the day included three black-type races associated with Qatar.
Qatar Nassau Stakes (Gr 1)cTypeface:> Deirdre provided Japan with a historic success in the £600,000 G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes. Trained by Mitsuru Hashida and ridden by Oisin Murphy, the five-year-old daughter of Harbinger finished with a flourish in the 10-furlong contest to capture G1 honours by a length and a quarter from long-time leader Mehdaayih trained by John Gosden. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Rawdaa was third. QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida al Kaabi, crowned the winners.
Qatar Richmond Stakes (Gr 2)cTypeface:> The Clive Cox-trained and Adam Kirby-ridden Golden Horde landed the £200,000 G2 Qatar Richmond Stakes. The two-year-old son of Lethal Force, who was also trained by Cox, held off the sustained challenge of the well-supported Threat, trained by Richard Hannon, to score by three-quarters of a length in the six-furlong event. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Royal Dornoch was third. QREC Board Member, Khalid bin Mohammed al Ali, crowned the winners.
Qatar Gordon Stakes (Gr 3)cTypeface:> Yorkshire-based Scotsman Mark Johnston trained his 81st Qatar Goodwood Festival winner, setting a record for wins at the famous midsummer meeting. It was also his 150th winner at all Goodwood’s meetings. Johnston’s landmark victory came courtesy the Silvestre De Sousa-ridden Nayef Road in the G3 Gordon Stakes. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Constantinople was second while the David Simcock-trained Spanish Moon was third in the 2400m. Al Kass Sports Channel’s General Manager Issa bin Abdulla al Hitmi crowned the winners.
Unibet Handicap Stakes (Class 2)cTypeface:> John Gosden registered his third victory of the week, following the success of Forest Of Dean in the 10-furlong £75,000 Unibet Handicap. Ridden by Harry Bentley, registering his first victory at this year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, the three-year-old son of Iffraaj ran on strongly up the far-side rail to score by two and a half lengths over the Andrew Balding-trained Fox Premier in second. The William Haggas-trained Sinjaari was third.
Telegraph Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 2)cTypeface:> Mark Johnston registered his fourth victory of the week at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and a double on Ladies’ Day following the impressive success of favourite Governor Of Punjab in the £25,000 Telegraph Nursery Handicap. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Governor Of Punjab won the seven-furlong event by a length over the Eve Johnson-Houghton-trained Sword Beach. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Richard Fahey-trained Toro Strike was third.
Markel Insurance British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Class 2)cTypeface:> The Charlie Hills-trained and K Shoemark-ridden Vividly won the £25,000 Markel Insurance British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Class 2). The M LW Bell-trained Craylands was second and the Mark Johnston-trained Tulip Fields was third.
Tatler Handicap Stakes (Class 3)cTypeface:> The Tom Clover-trained and P J McDonald-ridden Celsius won the £25,000 Tatler Handicap Stakes. The P F I Cole–trained Mercenary Rose was second while the Roger Varian–trained Lufricia was third.
London
A teenager made history as the first British jockey to compete in a major event wearing a hijab on Thursday, winning a "fairytale” victory on Ladies’ Day of Qatar Goodwood Festival (QGF) at the famed Goodwood racecourse.
Khadijah Mellah beamed and shared a high-five with another rider after crossing the finish line on her horse Haverland ahead of 11 other female jockeys.
The 18-year-old from a deprived south London neighbourhood had never sat on a racehorse until April and described her victory in the Magnolia Cup, a charity race for non-professional jockeys, as a "fairytale win”.
Mellah, who competed against riders including former Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton and presenter Vogue Williams, said before the race it was "crazy” that she was the first female Muslim jockey in British competitive horse racing.
Among 12 runners, Mellah gave the Charlie Fellowes-trained Haverland a well-timed run to win the 1100m run and score narrowly from Land Filly, ridden by Alexis Green, and Clewbrious Company, the mount of Rachael Gowland.
Khadijah said, "There are no words to describe this – I’m lost for words. I’m still trying to figure out how it all happened, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has come along to support.”
Mellah first began riding seven years ago after discovering Ebony Horse, a community riding centre.
Her preparation to take part in the high-profile race was captured in a documentary called "Riding a Dream” which will be broadcast in autumn.
Mellah, who will start university in autumn, said she had "a couple of sleepless nights” as she prepared for the race.
"I want to be a role model to anyone who wants to do something that they wouldn’t initially believe was in their comfort zone and allow people to follow their aspirations,” she said.
The British-based Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation said it was "worrying” it had taken so long to reach the milestone, but Mellah was blazing a trail for others.
"It’s important because we need role models for young Muslim girls especially,” spokeswoman Anira Khokhar told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
"When you have people like Khadijah ... it’s phenomenal – it shows there are no barriers and there are no boundaries.”
Thrill continues on Day 3
The events of Qatar Goodwood Festival in its 2019 renewal continued on day three of the five-day festival, which had its own glamour being the Ladies’ Day. Besides, the Magnolia Cup, the day included three black-type races associated with Qatar.
Qatar Nassau Stakes (Gr 1)cTypeface:> Deirdre provided Japan with a historic success in the £600,000 G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes. Trained by Mitsuru Hashida and ridden by Oisin Murphy, the five-year-old daughter of Harbinger finished with a flourish in the 10-furlong contest to capture G1 honours by a length and a quarter from long-time leader Mehdaayih trained by John Gosden. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Rawdaa was third. QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida al Kaabi, crowned the winners.
Qatar Richmond Stakes (Gr 2)cTypeface:> The Clive Cox-trained and Adam Kirby-ridden Golden Horde landed the £200,000 G2 Qatar Richmond Stakes. The two-year-old son of Lethal Force, who was also trained by Cox, held off the sustained challenge of the well-supported Threat, trained by Richard Hannon, to score by three-quarters of a length in the six-furlong event. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Royal Dornoch was third. QREC Board Member, Khalid bin Mohammed al Ali, crowned the winners.
Qatar Gordon Stakes (Gr 3)cTypeface:> Yorkshire-based Scotsman Mark Johnston trained his 81st Qatar Goodwood Festival winner, setting a record for wins at the famous midsummer meeting. It was also his 150th winner at all Goodwood’s meetings. Johnston’s landmark victory came courtesy the Silvestre De Sousa-ridden Nayef Road in the G3 Gordon Stakes. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Constantinople was second while the David Simcock-trained Spanish Moon was third in the 2400m. Al Kass Sports Channel’s General Manager Issa bin Abdulla al Hitmi crowned the winners.
Unibet Handicap Stakes (Class 2)cTypeface:> John Gosden registered his third victory of the week, following the success of Forest Of Dean in the 10-furlong £75,000 Unibet Handicap. Ridden by Harry Bentley, registering his first victory at this year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, the three-year-old son of Iffraaj ran on strongly up the far-side rail to score by two and a half lengths over the Andrew Balding-trained Fox Premier in second. The William Haggas-trained Sinjaari was third.
Telegraph Nursery Handicap Stakes (Class 2)cTypeface:> Mark Johnston registered his fourth victory of the week at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and a double on Ladies’ Day following the impressive success of favourite Governor Of Punjab in the £25,000 Telegraph Nursery Handicap. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Governor Of Punjab won the seven-furlong event by a length over the Eve Johnson-Houghton-trained Sword Beach. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Richard Fahey-trained Toro Strike was third.
Markel Insurance British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Class 2)cTypeface:> The Charlie Hills-trained and K Shoemark-ridden Vividly won the £25,000 Markel Insurance British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Class 2). The M LW Bell-trained Craylands was second and the Mark Johnston-trained Tulip Fields was third.
Tatler Handicap Stakes (Class 3)cTypeface:> The Tom Clover-trained and P J McDonald-ridden Celsius won the £25,000 Tatler Handicap Stakes. The P F I Cole–trained Mercenary Rose was second while the Roger Varian–trained Lufricia was third.