Lucinda Russell and Campbell Gillies after Monsoon Music's Newcastle win
PICTURE: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)Russell and Scudamore pay tribute to Gillies
LUCINDA RUSSELL and Peter Scudamore on Tuesday spoke of being "immensely proud" of Campbell Gillies, and their sadness at the news of the death of the young jockey.
Reports claim that Gillies, 21, died in a swimming accident in Kavos, Greece, and Russell, who had provided Gillies with his biggest win on Brindisi Breeze in the Albert Bartlett said on her website: "We are immensely proud of the achievements of Campbell. It was through his innate ability and talent that he reached great heights as a jockey at such an early age.
"More than that he had a wonderful charm that I believe came across to everyone who met him, and through his media interviews."
Scudamore added: "His victory at Cheltenham on Brindisi Breeze was the pinacle of Campbell's career; the race epitomised him as a jockey; his belief and confidence and his innate timing. He became one with the horse. This empathy and love of his horses was one of the reasons that he was a truly great jockey."
Gillies's uncle Rory McNeill made the following statement on behalf of the jockey's mother Lesley and siblings Finlay and Rita: ''The whole family is devastated and trying to come to terms with our loss. Campbell was dearly loved by one and all, and this is shown by the tributes to Campbell. We hope that at this time we can be given the space and time to grieve.''
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