Category: Jockey News
06-11-2018
This Friday 9 November sees the finales of both the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) and also the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentices World Championship (IFAHR) in Abu Dhabi.
10 jockeys ride in each race as follows:
Ladies: Belgium’s Sara Vermeersch (winner in Stockholm), France’s Marie Lemartinel (winner in Morocco) and Mégane Peslier (winner in Toulouse), Germany’s Rebecca Danz (winner in St Moritz), Ireland’s Evanna McCutcheon (winner in Oman), Italy’s Ilaria Saggiomo Ilaria (winner in Netherlands), Morocco’s Zineb Briouil, Netherlands Nadia Ibrahim, Sweden’s Tina Henriksson (winner in Houston USA) and UK’s Antonia Peck.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-2-11-727x1024.png)
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-2-8-731x1024.png)
Apprentices: Belgium’s Sanne De Ceulaer (winner in Seville) and Jurico Bogaerts (winner in Ostend), Germany’s Esther Weißmeier, Ireland’s Eoin Walsh (winner in Copenhagen), Oman’s Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (winner in Morocco), Poland’s Joanna Grzybowska, Russia’s Anna Makarova, Spain’s Alejandra Gutierrez Baeza (winner in Tarbes), Sweden’s Andreas Tapia Dalbark (winner in Oman) and UK’s Patrick Pilley.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-2-23-731x1024.png)
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Untitled-2-22-734x1024.png)
Many thanks as always to 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), and thanks also to our hosts in Abu Dhabi – Pat Buckley and Sam Shinsky – for their kind and generous support.
Good luck all!
05-11-2018
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/45011705_10215331071223469_7848506430779817984_n.jpg)
The international ladies race so kindly organised by France’s top lady jockey Barbara Guenet took place on Sunday 28 October.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/44993502_10215311125004826_892949852894265344_n.jpg)
After a fantastic few days on the magical island of Mauritius, 3 UK lady jockeys – Lorna Brooke, Jodie Hughes and Charly Prichard – rode there alongside fellow ladies representing France, Spain, Switzerland and Czech Republic.
Many congratulations to Charly Prichard on riding the winner for UK with Jodie Hughes 4th and Lorna Brooke 5th in a close finish! What a great end to a wonderful few days in the sun. Many thanks to Barbara for organising this unique trip.
You can watch the thrilling closing stages of the race here:
https://www.facebook.com/jodie.hughes.18/videos/a.10215311058763170/10215331115184568/?type=3&theater
04-11-2018
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/image-1-1024x674.png)
We owe a debt of gratitude to our friends at the Wuhan Jockey Club in China – Kit Wu and Coco Yao – for hosting such an amazing trip for our amateur jockeys representing Ireland and the UK recently, Ciaran Jones and George Eddery.![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_0161.jpg)
Although both jockeys were unplaced in the race which took place on 27th October, they relished the experience of race riding in China as well as the Chinese culture.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/image-5-1024x642.png)
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/image-1024x651.png)
We really appreciate the kind hospitality and wonderful opportunity extended to our members to ride in the Far East. Thank you Wuhan Jockey Club!
01-11-2018
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dq8xmLrXcAIdbh3-768x1024.jpg)
Huge congratulations to our 2018 Gentleman Flat Champion Jockey, Simon Walker, for yet another championship to add to the 11 already credited to his name. Simon in fact won his first championship back in 2003, just 3 years after Ryan Moore claimed the title, and has dominated the gentleman’s championships ever since alongside a hugely successful career as a regular champion jockey of Arabians.
The Amateur Jockeys Association Handicap over a mile and a quarter at Nottingham last night saw 13 runners go to post in the fading light. Leaving no doubt and stamping his authority on the 2018 championship, Simon gave a copybook ride to Steve Golling’s striking grey NEVADA to win by a neck from Kaine Wood and MR CARBONATOR for Philip Kirby, with Fergus Fillard 2 1/2 lengths third on David Pipe’s DREAM FREE.
The victory extended Simon’s lead to conclude the season with 5 wins, with last year’s Champion Pat Millman a valiant runner-up with 3 wins. Very many congratulations to Simon on yet another fantastic achievement and to winning connections on a fine win.
Well done to all our gentleman riders who have enjoyed winning rides this season and here’s hoping we can add more races to the calendar to look forward to for 2019!
30-10-2018
Many congratulations to Betfair winning jockey Charlie Todd who enjoyed a second career winning ride at Leicester yesterday when storming clear in the Fosse Way Handicap over 7 furlongs to win by 6 lengths on Mike Murphy’s Young John.
The well supported penultimate gentleman amateur riders’ race saw a field of 15 take part, with Alex Fielding 2nd on Mick Easterby’s Desert Dream and Ben Furnival 3 1/4 lengths 3rd on David Loughnane’s Berlios.
Well done Charlie on a great ride.
30-10-2018
Many congratulations to Simon Walker on a smooth performance at Doncaster on Friday when winning the final mixed race of the amateur Flat season, the Amateur Jockeys Association Handicap run over 1 mile and 2.
Holding up TRALEE HILLS in the early stages, the pair made steady headway on the outer from 3 furlongs out and under Simon’s driving Tralee Hills responded to keep on well to hold on by a neck from Matt Ennis aboard Alistair Whillans trained ZEALOUS by Peter Hedger . Ella McCain was 3rd on MEARING for Iain Jardine.
This win elevates Simon one ahead of reigning champion Pat Millman to go into the men’s finale at Nottingham tomorrow at the top of the leader board on 4 wins for the season and secure him an incredible 11th Gentleman’s Flat Championship over the last 14 years.
Pat Millman currently holds the runner-up slot but, without a ride himself, there is a chance he could be joined by 2014’s Joint Champion Jockey Ross Birkett who is one of 4 jockeys having ridden 2 wins this season, the others (without a ride tomorrow) being George Eddery, James Harding and Dr Misha Voikhansky.
We look forward to seeing a full field of 16 runners sign off the gentlemen’s season before the ladies enjoy their finale at Nottingham next Wednesday. Good luck all! Presentations will be made on each occasion to the Champion Jockey and to the Runner-Up following winning connections’ presentations after the race.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Untitled-2-11-536x1024.png)
09-10-2018
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/081018-163-Amateur-Jockeys-1024x730.jpg)
Many congratulations to Nell McCann who enjoyed success on her first ever ride when partnering SOCIAL BUTTERFLY for Mick Channon at Windsor in the 6 furlong finale of the Betfair 8 race series for novice riders.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/081018-119-Social-Butterfly-1024x614.jpg)
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/081018-124-Social-Butterfly-1024x679.jpg)
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/081018-127-Social-Butterfly-1024x670.jpg)
Always handy, the partnership joined the leaders at the half way stage and led inside the final furlong to keep on and win by half a length from series winning jockey Tom Midgley who came from a long way back on COASTAL DRIVE, with Sarah Bowen and WHITECREST a further length and 3/4 3rd.
Following the race Nell said “Social Butterfly took me through the whole race by herself – it was absolutely brilliant. She travelled so perfectly and picked up exactly when I asked.” Well done Nell on a great start to your career – and a worthy win for a real hard worker according to your boss which makes it even more rewarding. Congratulations to all winning connections!
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/081018-131-Social-Butterfly-2-1024x687.jpg)
Congratulations to Tom Midgley, series winning jockey, together with all other winning jockeys who have enjoyed success in this series – Dylan McDonagh, Ellie MacKenzie, Amy Collier, Charlie Todd and Jessica Gillam – and all other participating jockeys who have ridden so well.
Many thanks to all supporting racecourses as well as Jockey Coach Tim Reed and all trainers who have given so many novice riders race riding opportunities that they may have otherwise been denied. Importantly, huge thanks must also go to our loyal sponsors Betfair for yet another great series.
Planning now starts for 2019 for another great series to look forward to next summer!
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/081018-164-Amateur-Jockeys-Series-1024x708.jpg)
Photos: (c) Francesca Altoft
08-10-2018
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0594-1024x712.jpg)
The inaugural running of the Amateur Jockeys Association Handicap over 7f was held on Friday 5 October at Ascot for gentleman amateur riders. With an initial entry of 18, 7 went to post.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0600-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0599-1024x768.jpg)
Held up early on, CLIFFS OF CAPRI under Alex Ferguson made progress from halfway to lead inside the final 2 furlongs and win by 2 1/4 lengths from Freddie Mitchell and MANTON GRANGE, with Patrick Millman and DADDIES GIRL a head 3rd.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0593-1024x768.jpg)
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0598-1024x768.jpg)
This completed a double on the day for trainer Jamie Osborne together with an amateur double with CLIFFS OF CAPRI at Ascot this season, having been successful here under Gina Andrew back in July when winning the ladies’ Longines. “We have a good record here, mainly on the straight track” he said “I don’t know why – it must be the way we train them. They come home well. It’s been a lucky place for us!”
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0597-1024x768.jpg)
Jamie added that he originally booked Patrick Mullins for the ride and when Patrick rang him to say he was unavailable whilst he travelling to Goffs with John Ferguson, Alex’s father immediately put him in for the ride. Well done Alex on a great ride!
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_0596-1024x768.jpg)
Picture credits: AJA
04-10-2018
There is a possibility for a light amateur gentleman jockey to enjoy the opportunity to ride in China later this month from 26 to 28 October by kind invitation of Wuhan Jockey Club. The race is a 1200 metre non-handicapped for non-Thoroughbreds on 27 October and details are yet to be confirmed. All expenses of flight and accommodation will be met.
In addition it is hoped that future trips will be available to not only China but also other countries worldwide for gentleman riders with plans currently in progress.
If you are nearer 9 stone than 10 stone and would like to put your name forward, please e-mail your details (including total number of rides and wins as well as age and weight) to sph.oliver@btinternet.com.
04-10-2018
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/42994771_10156977999016318_3992268356144070656_n.jpg)
Many congratulations to Joanna Mason, our leading lady jockey and Champion Arabian Lady Jockey for the third successive seasons this year, on reaching the final nominations for the “Women of the Future” Awards to be held in London in mid-November.
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/43053734_10156977997981318_569787756104908800_n.jpg)
Joanna is following in the footsteps of Alice Mills (2016) and Page Fuller (2017), and we are delighted for Jo’s great achievement in reaching the finals in such a prestigious initiative – “to unlock a culture of kindness and collaboration among leaders”. These awards, founded by Pinky Lilani CBE DL, provide a platform for the remarkable female talent in the UK and recognise the inspirational stars of tomorrow across diverse sectors.
Jo’s nomination is a recognition of not only her talents as a top amateur jockey (currently leading this season’s All-Weather Championship and Joint Lady Flat Champion in 2017) but also of her courage in overcoming serious injury to return to the saddle and continue enjoying her competitive riding career. Well done Jo!
![](http://www.amateurjockeys.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/WOF18_button.png)
Photo credit: Michael Harris