AL AZHAR WINS WELL UNDER ALICE TREGONING

My 18 year old daughter Alice made the perfect start as an amateur jockey with a fluent victory on her first ride on Al Azhar in an amateur riders handicap over a mile and three quarters at Wolverhampton on Monday.

It was a case of Alice in Wonderland as she produced her mount with a smooth run to take the lead inside the final furlong before easing clear of Sea Appeal by two and a quarter lengths.

The runner up was partnered by the experienced amateur John Reddington who, at the age of 58, was forty years years older than his teenage rival.

Alice looked tidy throughout, kept Al Azhar nicely balanced as they made their challenge and was thrilled to ride a winner on her debut in the saddle.

She has had lots of coaching from Derby winning jockey John Reid, rides plenty of work for me at Whitsbury and has been working hard on her fitness over the past weeks.

While she will be off to Exeter University in the autumn to read business studies she will continue to ride out at home whenever time allows.