'He boosted my career from the word go' - Stott pays tribute to Hello Youmzain

Kevin Stott has paid tribute to Hello Youmzain for his breakthrough Group 1 success at Royal Ascot that has helped propel the rider's career to the next level.

The top sprinter, who has been retired to take up stallion duties at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, struck up a strong bond with the Danish-born rider. The pair landed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June which was a first Group 1 win and a first success at the meeting for Stott.

They enjoyed other memorable days together, winning the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte in October 2018 and beating odds-on favourite Calyx by three and a quarter lengths in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock the following May.

"He's been the horse to really boost my career from the word go," said Stott, who is having his best season with 71 winners to a £1 level-stakes profit of £44.80 before racing on Friday.

"What happened at Royal Ascot was just amazing – it was something you dream of.

"Sprinters are more unpredictable than horses running in the longer distance races, but he was very consistent and always tried his best. Credit goes to the horse but also to Kevin, who always had him in good form.

"After getting jocked off him, I thought it would take a long time to ride a Group 1 winner, but with the change of ownership I was lucky enough to get back on him."

Stott and Hello Youmzain (near) win the Diamond Jubilee on the nod from Dream Of Dreams and Sceptical (5)Credit: Edward Whitaker

The 26-year-old lost the ride on Hello Youmzain to James Doyle when the son of Kodiac gained the first of his two top-flight victories in last year's Sprint Cup at Haydock, but he got back aboard this season after Haras d'Etreham and Cambridge Stud acquired the sprinter.

Taking up stud duties in 2021 had always been the plan, but the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot on Saturday week – for which the Kevin Ryan-trained four-year-old was a general 7-1 shot – had been mooted following his fifth place behind Dream Of Dreams in last month's Sprint Cup.

"It would have been nice to have that one last go at Ascot because Haydock didn't turn out the way we wanted, but it was up to the owners at the end of the day," added Stott.

"He's gone off to stud and I'm sure he'll have a good career doing that. He's got a great temperament and is a very big horse to go with it. I'm sure he'll produce some fast ones."

Hello Youmzain, who had been previously owned by Jaber Abdullah, won five of his 12 races, amassing £579,974 in prize-money.

Hello Youmzain career details

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