THE AMATEUR JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN

Category: Jockey News

Katy Lyons wins at Fontwell

21-11-2017

Every picture tells a story, and none better than this with Katy Lyons overjoyed with her winning ride for Phil York on Sunday at Fontwell Park of the Goring Hotel Handicap Chase aboard SPIRITOFCHARTWELL.

Outpaced in the early stages and ridden along, Katy drew on the horse’s reserves and they chased the leading pair to draw steadily closer and lead by 3 lengths at the last, and managed to hold off the efforts of LORD ALDERVALE to win by 3/4 of a length, with GORING ONE (owned by George Goring) 16 lengths back in third.

Katy enjoys a great rapport with SPIRITOFCHARTWELL – 2 wins and a 2nd from his last 3 runs, all at Fontwell! Well done Katy!

Aaron Anderson and Bollin Line shine at Ludlow

18-11-2017

23795364_10156040937666318_3798922519538731524_nThe annual AJA hurdle took place on Thursday at Ludlow and it was good to see Irish support with Jim Dreaper bringing over MULLAGHMURPHY BLUE with Jamie Codd in the saddle.

A steady pace was set by the field of 12 until MULLAGHMURPHY BLUE took the lead at the second last. However he was challenged and headed on the flat by BOLLIN LINE who, driven out by Aaron Anderson, went on to win comfortably by 2 1/4 lengths with Isabel Williams a further 7 lengths back in third.

This was not only a hat-trick for BOLLIN LINE but also a third win for Aaron, all with the same horse, the partnership having enjoyed Aaron’s first career win at Market Rasen back in August and success at Ludlow only a week earlier.

Winning trainer Lucinda Egerton said “I can’t believe it – he’s ten years old and is still improving. He’s fragile and tricky to train as he has to have his own way. He’s always had the talent and is really starting to show it.”

An equally delighted jockey who comes from Galway, Aaron said “I had a break from racing before coming back to ride him to victory at Market Rasen. At the time I was working offshore on a wind farm boat and nobody believed me when I said I was going to ride in a race.”

Many congratulations to winning connections!

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Photo credits: AJA

Ed Bailey wins at Ludlow and Ffos Las!

10-11-2017

23659724_10156040770116318_9128903579009945147_nWe really appreciate the support of so many racecourses programming amateur races both on the Flat and NH, and one of our most loyal supporters is Ludlow. it was here on 26 October that Ed Bailey enjoyed a winning ride aboard GO ON HENRY owned by his parents and trained by Matt Sheppard in the Bob Hagan 70th Birthday Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (for The Court of Hill Challenge Cup).

Dropping him out in the early stages of the race, Ed bided his time and did not begin to make an impression on the leaders until turning into the home straight for the final time. It was here that he began to close in and take up the running from two out, staying on well to win by 4 lengths from Chester Williams on GRAND COUREUR with Jodie Hughes and SHOW’S OVER 7 lengths back in third.

This success came just 5 days after Ed scored at Ffos Las on 21 October (shortly after Zac Baker had won the Welsh Champion Hurdle!) when again riding for Matt Shepherd, this time against professionals aboard PATRICKS PARK. Well done Ed!

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Photo credits: AJA

Arabian Series concludes in Abu Dhabi

10-11-2017

Tonight sees the finals of the HH Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies and Apprentices World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Many thanks to the Sheikh Mansoor Festival and of course to the driving force that is Lara Sawaya, Executive Director of HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival, Chairman of the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies (IFHRA) and Chairman of Ladies & Apprentice Racing Committees in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) for the many opportunities given to our own lady amateurs as well as professional lady riders and British apprentice jockeys.

This year Jodie Hughes (Oman), Alice Mills (St Moritz (abandoned) & Stockholm), Emma Todd (Texas), Ellie MacKenzie (Bahrain & Chelmsford), Michelle Edden (Morocco), Emma Sayer (Rome), Poppy Bridgwater (California), Ostend (Rosie Jessop) and Poland (Joanna Mason) all enjoyed riding abroad and representing Great Britain. There were some incredibly close finishes but sadly no amateur victory, although we were hugely proud to have a UK win in Belgium (for the 3rd consecutive year with previous winners Page Fuller and Cath Walton) thanks to Rosie Jessop who rides in tonight’s finale. GOOD LUCK ROSIE!

The following apprentices also rode for the UK: Katherine Glenister (Oman & Copenhagen), Jane Elliott (Rome), Paddy Pilley(Chelmsford and New Jersey), Jonathan Fisher (Poland) and Paula Muir (France). Sadly again no UK victories but Newmarket (Stuart Williams) based Milly Naseb was victorious representing Jordan at Chelmsford which earned her a place in the line-up tonight in the apprentices’ finale. GOOD LUCK MILLY!

Other UK based apprentices represented their respective countries: Manuel Fernandes (Portugal), Jordan Uys (Zimbabwe), Sophie Ralston (Ireland) and Robbie Fitzpatrick (Ireland).

Wishing everyone a great evening’s racing in Abu Dhabi to conclude this year’s Arabian racing under the patronage of the Sheikh Mansoor Festival.

We all send get well soon wishes to Cecily Eaton who was due to represent Australia but had a bad race fall the day before leaving for the Middle East and is currently recuperating with broken bones in her back. Mend soon Cecily!

Aaron Anderson & Bollin Line win Hands & Heels at Ludlow

10-11-2017

To make yesterday even better for amateurs who are so well supported by Ludlow Racecourse’s race programming, the Hands and Heels hurdle saw Aaron Anderson enjoy a 2nd career win aboard BOLLIN LINE for Lucinda Egerton, significantly the horse who gave him his first win back in August in another H&H at Market Rasen.

Aaron held up his mount and produced him with impeccable timing to lead over the last and driven out ran on strongly to win by just over 2 lengths. Its good to see such a partnership, especially with the horse defying a 7 lb penalty for a recent Sedgefield success. Well done Aaron!

We look forward to returning next week to Ludlow for the AJA handicap hurdle on Thursday.

Zac Baker extends lead on gentlemen with Ludlow win

10-11-2017

With the close of the Flat season tomorrow and our own amateur Flat season now put to bed, full focus is on our National Hunt season which is of course well under way.

Many congratulations to Zac Baker who extended his lead in the gentlemen’s championship with a fine win yesterday at Ludlow to make it 4 wins so far this season. Partnering ROBINSHILL (who had dropped Jamie Bargary at the final fence with the race at his mercy on his last run) Zac gave the horse a confident and patient ride and survived a jinx at the last to drive him out for an impressive 5 length victory.

Nigel Twiston-Davies said “The horse was desperately unlucky last time and the handicapper put him up 4 lb for basically getting beaten, which was hardly ideal. He jumped pretty well this time and Zac organised him at the last when seeing a nice stride – so all is well that ends well.”

Well done Zac! 🏆👏

Pat Millman crowned Gentleman Flat Champion

08-11-2017

The withdrawal of 4 declared runners before the start of our last gents Flat race of the season saw leading jockey Pat Millman without a ride but his lead could not be reached by any of his weighing room colleagues and he is our 2017 Gentleman Amateur Flat Jockey. Huge congratulations to Pat on this great achievement. Pat is the first ex-apprentice to revert back to amateur status and become champion.

Interestingly this is the first time in more than a decade that anyone has got past Simon Walker for either of the top 2 slots in the championship, Simon having won this championship no less than 12 times over the past 14 years and been runner-up in the other 2!  Simon first won this championship back in 2003, just 3 years after an amateur called Ryan Moore was crowned Gentleman Amateur Flat Champion Jockey back in 2000.

Many congratulations also to Ben James who managed to go one ahead of Simon and finish the season with 4 wins to give him the runner-up slot. Again this is a real achievement. Ben leaves Newmarket next week for sunnier climes to join Gai Waterhouse for 12 months and we wish him the very best of luck.

Well done to all of our gentleman riders who have enjoyed riding winners this season!🏆🍾🏆🍾🏆🍾🏆🍾

Jay Kendrick enjoys final men’s race win of Flat season

08-11-2017

DOH_p6pW0AIWkuA 2Many congratulations to Jay Kendrick who won the last men’s race of the season tonight at Nottingham with Mick Michael Appleby’s Topamichi to reward the horse’s patient owners The Horse Watchers who have given the horse time to overcome niggling problems and run to his best. Clearly Jay’s recent trip to China and the experience of riding out there put him spot on for this winning ride!

Well done Jay!

Photo credits: AJA

Serena and Joanna share Ladies Flat Championship again

02-11-2017

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It’s tough at the top, and although we all know it’s tougher at the bottom, this season the ladies had a real battle to the line for the Ladies Flat championship.

Huge congratulations to Serena Brotherton and Joanna Mason on a fantastic achievement in winning their 2nd joint championship (having shared it in 2015) and for Serena this is incredibly her 10th ladies title! It has not been plain sailing for either of them this season and Joanna also won the Arabian Ladies Championship, so a tremendous double for her

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Many congratulations also to our trio of talented and valiant runners-up – triple winning past champion Carol Bartley – the only amateur to win against professionals in the 9 race Silk Series this year, 2017 Betfair Champion Abbie Mccain and younger sister, 16 year old Ella Mccain who were all just one win behind the champions with 4 wins each. It was a real achievement for the McCain girls, both having each enjoyed a winner in the Betfair series which cannot be included in the championship tally.

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Well done to all of our lady riders who have enjoyed riding winners this season!🏆🍾🏆🍾🏆🍾🏆🍾

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