Hayley Turner became only the second female jockey in Britain ever to win a Group One race today, taking the Darley July Cup aboard Dream Ahead.
“I can’t take much credit as I haven’t sat on the horse before, but I’m delighted – absolutely delighted,” said an ecstatic Turner.
Turner was a late call-up for Dream Ahead as both regular jockey William Buick and Jamie Spencer, who often rides for the horse’s trainer David Simcock, were unavailable.
The only other female jockey to ride a Group One winner in Britain is Alex Greaves, who dead-heated in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Ya Malak in 1997.
Dream Ahead was a brilliant two-year-old last season, but could only finish fifth in both his starts this year – the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes. This drop back in distance from a mile to six furlongs proved successful as the Diktat colt came to the front inside the final furlong and won comfortably.
