Gemma Owen’s Goodwood debut
Gemma Owen finished fourth on her jockey debut when she took part in the Markel Magnolia Cup on Thursday, the annual charity race run at Goodwood. The influencer, international dressage rider and daughter of former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen was one of the star names among the dozen women chosen for the popular event.
Owen prepared for the race at her Dad’s Manor House racing stables in Cheshire, guided by the former top professional jockey Franny Norton. Manor House’s trainer Hugo Palmer supplied her mount who was named Turbo Trotter for the day.
But when the race started Gemma was left behind and by the time she got going, she had too much ground to make up on the leaders as she finished fourth.
“It was an amazing experience from start to finish,” she said. “He was an angel and he really looked after me, but that flag start is different as everyone's bunched together and cutting each other up.
“My start wasn't great; I got boxed in, but he travelled well, made up some good ground and finished strong. If I'd have a better start, it'd have been a different result.”
She added: “I think I'll go again. I want to win now, and I'll probably end up doing another race so I can get that first place. “Dressage is very concise and slow, and that was the complete opposite. Everything happened so quick, but I don't know which one I prefer. “I've loved the training and riding out, and seeing what goes on behind the scenes makes you appreciate the hard work that goes into it. I've a new found respect for jockeys, and I appreciate the sport a lot more since doing it. I'm never happy not winning, so you'll see me back.”
Victory for Imaan Rasul-Healer
Victory was claimed by Imaam Rasul-Healer on Khor Al Adaid, trained by Scott Dixon.
The 26-year-old who works at Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing yard in Newmarket only got a place in the race six days earlier after Molly Hunter, a reporter for the Press Association, was ruled out by illness.
“I had not done too much prep, got on him for the first time last Friday,” she said. “I’ve been in the process the whole way but at every single fitness test I seemed to be ill, or something was wrong.
“Then I fell off a two-year-old filly, hit my head, got a concussion and wasn’t allowed to do my final fitness test. I got the call last week and thankfully was fit to step in.”
The race has raised more than £75,000 for Education Above All Foundation, a global education non-profit.
She added: “I’m only the second Muslim to win this and charity is a huge focal point of our religion.”
