Historic success for Aamilah Aswat at Kempton

Aamilah Aswat made turf history at today’s fixture at Kempton Park when becoming the first female black jockey to ride a winner over jumps.

The 20-year-old partnered 9-1 chance Guchen to a length and a quarter success in the Best Odds Guaranteed Overnight At CopyBet Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. The same horse had provided Aswat with her first ever ride in public, also at Kempton Park, when finishing fifth in a similar contest back in November.

Speaking after her success today, Aswat said: “He gave me a great feeling all the way round and always felt like he had plenty left. 

“It just feels amazing to get a winner and so soon as well. I am very thankful to all the connections – the owners and the two trainers. Guchen jumped really well and I was so happy with him.”

Speaking about her route to riding as a professional Jump jockey, Aswat added: “It has been rocky, but I have stuck with it and it has been so rewarding. Hopefully, there will be many more winners.

“If it wasn’t for the Ebony Horse Club, I wouldn’t have progressed in my race riding career so far. I am very thankful to them.”

Paying tribute to her jockey coach Will Kennedy, a former jockey himself, she added: “Will has worked with me for weeks and weeks on end. He has given me loads of advice and I am very thankful to him as well.”

On why she had taken the decision to ride as a Jump jockey she said: “Ever since I was young, I was more drawn to Jump racing and Cheltenham.

“My dream is to ride as many winners as I can, and to just get on with it. Riding against professional jockeys helps to really build up my confidence and you can ask them for advice – they are all very nice and I’m very appreciative. 

“The message I hopefully give out to other people is that if you want to do it, you definitely can and I will be following you every step of the way.”

Guchen is owned by Friends Of Ebony Horse Club, the Brixton-based inner-city riding school. Aswat initially learned to ride at a similar organisation, St James City Farm and Riding School in Gloucester, where she was brought up by her British parents of Indian and Jamaican heritage.

Sponsored by The Jockey Club, Aswat completed the inaugural Riding A Dream Academy scholarship programme in 2021-22 before participating in pony racing. She joined Gloucestershire-based joint trainers Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, who are responsible for Guchen, over three years ago.