From Brixton’s Ebony Horse Club to Goodwood – Khadijah rides her dream

KHADIJAH_MELLAH the first British Muslim woman to ride at Goodwood
Khadijah Mellah, 18, will become the first female British Muslim jockey when she takes part in the Magnolia Cup horse race at Goodwood racecourse tomorrow (Thursday 1 August). Credit: Great British Racing/Riding a Dream

Khadijah Mellah, an 18 year old student from Peckham in South London, is all set for the race of her life when she competes in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood racecourse tomorrow, Thursday 1August. She will line up against Olympian Victoria Pendleton and model Vogue Williams for the biggest day in her sporting life.

Khadijah Mellah at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton
Khadijah Mellah at Ebony Horse Club in Brixton. Credit: Great British Racing/Riding a Dream

Khadijah, from Peckham, learnt to ride at the charity Ebony Horse Club in Brixton but only sat on a racehorse for the first time in April.

Khadijah told the Brixton Blog back in June during training: “I am super-duper excited about riding in the Magnolia Cup.” She has ridden at the racing yards of Chris Wall and Simon Dow. “It was a great experience seeing how different racehorses are,” she added.

Khadijah Mellah
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori and ITV Racing presenter Oli Bell with Khadijah Mellah

Her journey from South East London to the famous Goodwood racecourse where she will compete in the ladies only charity horse race, the Magnolia Cup, will be the subject of a documentary called Riding a Dream which will air in the autumn.

The film is being directed by Tom Bolwell and Mattia Reiniger and produced by Oli Bell and his brother Philip Bell.

The documentary team will follow Khadijah’s training regime and her journey from Brixton to Goodwood, one of the most famous racecourses in the UK. GoodwoodGreat British Racing and the Racing Foundation are funding the documentary.

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.