Aamilah Aswat etched her name into British racing history on Monday when she steered Guchen to victory at Kempton Park, becoming the first black professional female jump jockey to triumph in the country.
The 20-year-old secured the win in a 2m5f handicap hurdle at odds of 9-1, seeing off the 6-4 favourite Grand Conqueror by a length and a quarter.
It was only her fourth ride under rules, with all four coming aboard the grey gelding trained by Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls.
Aswat said afterwards: "It's very exciting. I just feel so buzzed up. I won't forget my first winner in a hurry."
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Guchen is owned by Friends of the Ebony Horse Club, a syndicate whose patron is Queen Camilla, and the horse races in Her Majesty's colours.
Sir Francis Brooke, the King's representative at Ascot, assembled the group of racing enthusiasts who backed the gelding.
Bailey expressed his delight at Aswat's breakthrough moment.
The Grand National-winning trainer said: "I'm so chuffed for her."
Aamilah Aswat etched her name into British racing history on Monday when she steered Guchen to victory at Kempton Park
|THEJOCKEYCLUB
She added: "Unless you’re the son of an owner or trainer, how does anyone get going? She’s incredibly lucky Francis put together this syndicate and gave her the chance. It’s her lucky break and he needs a pat on the back.
"It’s only her fourth ride, but she’s learning and riding a winner will hopefully make it easier to get more rides. I think she’s shell-shocked."
The Ebony Horse Club provides riding opportunities to disadvantaged young people in south London.
Aswat grew up in Gloucester, where she first sat on a horse at the age of five at St James's City Farm and Riding School.
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The 20-year-old secured the win in a 2m5f handicap hurdle at odds of 9-1
|THEJOCKEYCLUB
Her parents are of Indian and Jamaican heritage, and her early experiences at the city farm led to pony racing, including competing at Cheltenham on one of the centre's cobs before securing a win at Lingfield.
She joined the inaugural Riding A Dream Academy scholarship programme in 2021-22, an initiative established to help young people from diverse ethnic communities enter the sport following Khadijah Mellah's Magnolia Cup victory in 2019.
After completing the Foundation Course at the British Racing School, she joined Bailey and Nicholls' yard, where she has spent four years working towards this moment.
Aswat's ultimate goal is to conquer Aintree's famous fences.
Her parents are of Indian and Jamaican heritage
|PA
She previously told The Telegraph: "I've been obsessed with the National for years.
"I'd like to be acknowledged not just as a black jockey but a really good jockey.
"Hopefully I can ride as many winners as I can and just get on with it."
"It gives others the message that they can do it as well and I'll be following them every step of the way."