Emirati jockey’s royal surprise

I wonder what price Ahmad Ajtebi would have been to make his first ride at Royal Ascot a winning one?

Defying the odds in no uncertain terms, and creating a piece of history, Ajtebi became the first Emirati jockey to ride a winner at the most prestigious racing festival in the world in the Buckingham Palace Stakes on Dandy Nicholls’ Regal Parade.

Drawn in the ideal stall three, the Grandstand Stables-based apprentice kept his mount close to the pace on the stand side and after being momentarily headed by Jimmy Quinn on Jedburgh, the chestnut stayed on to win.

The look on the winning jockey’s face was confusion and sheer disbelief, and it was only until Jimmy Fortune on Racer Forever, a Dubai Carnival winner, congratulated the winning rider did Ajtebi realise he had beaten all his 27 other rivals.

To cap a magnificent weekend for the trainer-jockey combination, the trip up to Redcar paid off the next day where they combined to win with the aptly named Royal Dignitary.

It just goes to show, for some, dreams do come true and it is a great achievement for the 26 year old, who said: “This is my 51st winner overall and any race I win here [UK] is different from anywhere else, let alone at Royal Ascot. It is a privilege to ride here against the top jockeys from France, Ireland and England.”

There were several similar pieces of history added to Royal Ascot’s folklore.

Equiano became the first Spanish-trained individual to win in the King’s Stand Stakes; Sussex handler Suzy Smith saddled her first flat winner, Missoula, in the Ascot Stakes; and Langs Lash produced a few tears when providing Mick Quinlan with a landmark first winner at the meeting.

A great week, but I do feel it was a shame that connections opted to retire the Queen Anne winner Haradasun straight after the race to stud. Once again another example of how the money side of the industry takes over the sport side.

I commend the likes of Cheveley Park Stud who manage to successfully mix both racing and breeding without prematurely sending their charges to the paddocks.

Beeb boob

I suggest the BBC get their priorities right. After excellent TV coverage of Royal Ascot, which was live in the UAE on Dubai Sports; BBC Panorama reporter Paul Kenyon was seen at Haydock last Sunday doing a pretty good impression of the paparazzi as he hindered Fergal Lynch on returning to the weighing room seemingly eager to stir up more race-fixing controversy.

For a broadcaster that likes to pride itself on broadcasting the best racing in the country, it seems to have shot itself in the foot this time.