Aamilah Aswat made history at Kempton on Monday by becoming the first black British female to ride in a jumps race in Britain. The 20-year-old partnered Guchen, trained by Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, to finish fifth of 10 in the handicap hurdle.
Aswat is a graduate of the inaugural Riding A Dream Academy scholarship (2021–22) and spent time at the British Racing School before riding in this year’s Magnolia Cup on the flat at Goodwood. She is based at the Bailey and Nicholls yard in Gloucestershire.
Speaking after the race, Aswat said she could hardly believe her long-held dream had come true. She praised Guchen’s performance and expressed gratitude to Kim and Mat for their trust, saying her priority was to get round safely and repay that faith. She also said she was proud to be the first black British female jump jockey and hoped her appearance would inspire other young people, naming Khadijah Mellah as someone she looked up to while growing up.
Khadijah Mellah — the rider who won the 2019 Magnolia Cup and co-founded the Riding A Dream Academy — said she had watched Aswat’s development with pride and welcomed the visibility the ride provided, noting how important it is for talent from diverse backgrounds to be seen.
Fellow academy co-founder Naomi Lawson reiterated the organisation’s goal of expanding opportunities for young people from diverse ethnic communities. She pointed out that only around 2–3% of licensed jockeys come from these backgrounds, well below the national average, and said the hope is that Aswat will be the first of many to progress through the ranks and succeed.
