Brixton teenager to become first rider to race in a hijab in Britain

Racing breaks new ground in the Magnolia Cup charity event at Goodwood on Thursday with Brixton teenager Khadijah Mellah set to become the first rider to race in a hijab in Britain.

Mellah is a seven-year veteran of Brixton's Ebony Horse Club, a charity and community riding centre surrounded by high-rise blocks of flats and railway viaducts.

ITV Racing's Oli Bell, one of the club's patrons, hatched the idea of filming one of the riders on a journey to riding in the glitzy charity race alongside the more privileged and famous.

Mellah, 18 and awaiting her A-level results, admits she casually liked the idea but soon found out the commitment needed and threw herself into the rigours just as she had in all her other sporting endeavours.

"I love sports and am very competitive," she said. "There was only cricket at primary school but then in year seven I was playing rounders, rugby, hockey and throwing the javelin for London schools before getting into rowing, boxing, which I hope to get back to, and karate, in which I got a black belt."

Even one of her Cup rivals, dual Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton who Mellah is in awe of for her riding conversion, would be impressed by that sporting CV.

So it is safe to say Mellah is not going to Goodwood to make up the numbers and her amazing short story is already the subject of Bell's documentary film, jointly funded by Great British Racing, Goodwood and the Racing Foundation, which has the Magnolia Cup as the denouement.

Khadijah Mellah, looking forward to the Magnolia Cup. Great British Racing

Mellah, who has been well taught by Newmarket trainer Charlie Fellowes, readily admits the odds are stacked against her winning the Magnolia Cup, but nevertheless she would give Bryony Frost a run for her money in front of the television cameras both in the beaming smile stakes and infectious enthusiasm for riding horses and being a winner.

Lack of effort in the saddle will not be an issue for Mellah as her riding skills have been honed intently and intensely at racing's headquarters first under the watchful eye of the British Racing School experts and then on the gallops under the gaze of Fellowes, who had his first Glorious Goodwood winner on Tuesday.

From Brixton to the Sussex Downs on Thursday for Khadijah Mellah

Mellah, displaying maturity beyond her years and being eminently grounded, said: "I'm in it to win it but there are certain horses handicapped in the 80s and my horse Haverland is rated 66, so the odds are slightly against me and the other riders have tons of experience as well.

"Haverland is a cool dude. I've ridden him twice and he can be quite fast despite being only tiny for a racehorse – he's only 14.2 hands.

"I can't wait for the race. I only started two months ago so just to get in the top three would be crazy."

Magnolia Cup runners and riders

1.10 Goodwood
No. Magnolia Cup name (horse's real name) rider

1. Thakeham (Shimba Hills) Victoria Pendleton
2. Gallant Trade (Harry Hurricane) Georgia Connolly
3. Black Beauty (Valentino Sunrise) Valeria Holinger
4. Dufftown Dancer (Alketios) Kitty Trice
5. Scottish Blade (Scottish Blade) Rosie Tapner
6. The Magic Sign (Paddy Power) Vogue Williams
7. Haverland (Haverland) Khadijah Mellah
8. Harrods Hero (Phosphorescence) Luisa Zissman
9. Land Filly (Wiff Waff) Alexis Green
10. Clewbrious Company (Optimistickhill) Rachel Gowland
11. Charles Stanley (Pearl Noir) Sophie van der Merwe
12. Taurean Star (Taurean Star) Kate Grover

Mellah only got her first sight of Goodwood 24 hours before the race but has viewed plenty of footage and been sent just as many clips as news of her charity race spread like wildfire after a two-minute interview on ITV News.

One of the most rapid downhill sprint tracks could be daunting, but as she considered a sudden thunderstorm causing pandemonium on the gallops as "hilarious" the prospect of a cavalry charge should hold no fears.

Mellah might have been fast-tracked but do not be fooled that this is a millennial teenager's bid for five minutes of fame like so many others.

"I definitely want to keep riding out and have an aim so want to go for an amateur licence, or at least do more charity races," she added with another smile.

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