First students of the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship celebrate graduation

Nine students have become the first graduates of the Khadijah Mellah Scholarship after they completed the year-long course at the Riding A Dream Academy.

The programme aims to increase diversity within racing and was founded following Mellah's success as the first British Muslim woman to win a competitive race in the UK in the 2019 Magnolia Cup.

The scholarship is eligible for teenagers aged 14-18 from diverse and under-represented communities and aims to give them a platform into the industry, with the recent graduates now seeking further opportunities within the sport.

"I am so incredibly proud and humbled by everything that the students have achieved this year," Mellah said.

"To see them arrive in August last year having only ever sat on riding school ponies to now riding racehorses on the gallops here is just mind-blowing. As a group and individually I am so impressed by the talent, hard work and commitment they have put in and I can't wait to see where their careers in racing take them next.

"None of this would have been possible without the support of the Racing Foundation and the incredible instructors at the British Racing School – I am so grateful to everyone who has made the Academy possible."

Khadijah Mellah following her success in the 2019 Magnolia Cup at GoodwoodCredit: Dan Kitwood (Getty Images)

The scholarship is run through the Riding A Dream Academy, which was set up by ITV broadcaster Oli Bell and Naomi Lawson, who is director of communications at Great British Racing.

With funding from the Racing Foundation, along with support from the Jockey Club and Champion Equestrian, students are taught to ride in a week-long residential stint at the British Racing School at Newmarket before returning regularly for further lessons.

One of the recent graduates, 16-year-old Aamilah from Gloucester, will now join the racing school's foundation course to follow her ambitions of becoming a jockey.

Aamilah said: "I am so lucky to be one of the first group of the Riding A Dream Academy – it's been such an honour and an incredible experience.

"It has helped me so much with my riding journey and I am now one step closer to becoming a jump jockey and my dream of winning the Grand National!"

Read more on this . . .

Scholarship named after Khadijah Mellah launched for young riders

Khadijah Mellah documentary wins Best British Short Film at prestigious awards

Riding A Dream: the sublime story of of Khadijah Mellah's unlikeliest of victories

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