Aamilah Aswat became the first black female jump jockey to ride a winner in Britain when she steered Guchen to victory at Kempton on Monday, landing a 2m5f Class 4 handicap hurdle at 9-1.
This was not a case of being nursed into it with a soft touch either. It was Aswat’s fourth ride under rules and she beat a field of ten, all handled by professional jockeys.
Guchen, trained by Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, travelled with purpose through the middle part of the race and jumped with enough fluency to keep Aswat out of trouble. When the tempo lifted, she kept her hands quiet, asked at the right time and got a proper response. The gelding found plenty under pressure and stuck his neck out when it mattered.
Aswat did not hide the significance of the moment to Racing TV, but she also spoke like someone who understands that winners come from graft, not headlines. “It feels amazing to get a winner. Guchen gave me a great feeling and I’m really proud of him. I’m very thankful to connections,” she said.
There was a practical edge to her assessment of how she has got here, too. “When you’re riding against professionals, it builds your confidence. You can ask them for advice, and they’re always nice.”
Aswat credits Ebony Horse Club pathway as she targets more winners
Guchen’s ownership story sits neatly alongside the result. He races for a syndicate that supports the Ebony Horse Club, the south London outfit that provides riding opportunities for disadvantaged young people. Aswat credited that pathway for turning ambition into a race-riding career. “The road to my first winner has been a bit rocky, but if you stick with it, it’s so rewarding, and hopefully there are many more to come. If it wasn’t for the Ebony Horse Club, I wouldn’t have progressed in my race-riding career, so I’m very thankful,” she said.
She has also come through the Riding A Dream Academy programme, aimed at opening racing’s doors to young people from diverse communities, and she made clear who she wants watching next. “For younger girls, it gives them the message that they can do it and I’ll be following them every step of the way. Now I want to ride as many winners as I can and just get along with it.”