Instructors at the riding school where hijab-wearing jockey Khadijah Mellah learned to ride today said they “always knew she could do it” after she made history at Goodwood.
Khadijah, 18, from Peckham, first mounted a racehorse four months ago and rode a 25-1 outsider, but took first place in the charity race against the likes of model Vogue Williams and Olympian Victoria Pendleton.
David Fleming, the Engagement Manager of Brixton’s Ebony Horse Club, told the Standard: “We always knew she could do it - but now she has shown the world what she is capable of. Everyone is over the moon.”
The club is a charity and community centre that teaches young people how to ride and care for horses.
Khadijah, who has completed her A levels and hopes to start an engineering degree next month, first joined the club aged 12. She hopes her victory will inspire others.
