A student from the Riding A Dream Academy will line up in this year’s Markel Magnolia Cup at Goodwood Racecourse on Thursday 1 August, five years after Khadijah Mellah made history in 2019 by winning the same race. Aamilah Aswat, 18, from Gloucester was one of the first students to join the Riding A Dream Academy which was set up after Khadijah’s victory to support other young people from diverse ethnic backgrounds into British horse racing.

Aamilah first learned to ride at St James’s City Farm in Gloucester at age six and participated in pony races with the Pony Racing Authority from age 11. At 16 she won a place on the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship, the Riding A Dream Academy’s flagship programme where, over the course of a year, young people learn to ride and look after racehorses and develop their knowledge of British racing. She has since graduated from the Foundation Course at the British Racing School and now works for Grand National winning trainer, Kim Bailey.

Aamilah said, “Ever since I was a little girl I have dreamt of being a jockey so to be taking part in this year’s Magnolia Cup is a dream come true and very surreal. I have ridden in pony races before, but to have the opportunity to ride at Goodwood and in such an amazing race, is such a privilege. I’m going in with no expectations and no pressure – I just want to enjoy the whole experience.”

Khadijah Mellah, one of the co-founders of the Riding A Dream Academy who became the first British Muslim woman to win a UK horse race when landing the Magnolia Cup in 2019 said, “We are so excited that Aamilah is taking part in this year’s Magnolia Cup. Our ambitions when we set up the Riding A Dream Academy was to support other young people from diverse ethnic communities and urban equestrian centres into racing and so to see one of our students riding in the same race which changed my life and kickstarted this whole incredible journey is very emotional. I am looking forward to supporting Aamilah on her journey, letting her know what to expect and making sure she enjoys every minute of the experience.”

Naomi Lawson, co-founder of the Academy said, “It was such a joy to have Aamilah on our first ever Scholarship course at the Academy and she was one of our stand-out talents. We are very proud of the fact that to date, 75% of our Scholarship students have, like Aamilah, gone onto full-time work in a racing yard or work experience in the industry and for us to have our first ever race-rider is another massive landmark in the Academy’s history.”

Goodwood racecourse moving forwards will offer a place in the Markel Magnolia Cup every year to a student of the Riding A Dream Academy.

The Markel Magnolia Cup has raised a phenomenal £2.4 million for charitable causes since its inception. Fundraising has now begun for the 2024 Markel Magnolia Cup via Just Giving here.

Tickets, dining and hospitality are on sale for the Qatar Goodwood Festival, which takes place from 30 July to 3 August. Visit Goodwood.com or call 01243 755055 to find out more.