Six of the best Hayley Turner triumphs

Tony Kelshaw
November 21, 2023 6:19 pm

Two Group One wins and four Royal Ascot victories feature in highlights list.

To celebrate Hayley Turner reaching the 1,000 winners mark, we have picked out six of her most notable victories.

The 40-year-old has blazed a trail for female jockeys throughout her career, but it was not too hard to narrow this list down to her two Group One triumphs, plus four Royal Ascot strikes!

Dream Ahead (2011)

Horse Racing – The Piper Heidsieck July Festival – Darley July Cup Day – Newmarket Racecourse — Hayley Turner celebrates on Dream Ahead after winning the Darley July Cup (Steve Parsons/PA)

Turner became the first female jockey to claim a Group One success outright when steering David Simcock’s star sprinter to victory in the July Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket. The 7-1 shot had to overcome trouble in running but showed a superb turn of foot once getting clear and was half a length in front of Bated Breath at the finishing post. With regular partner William Buick required elsewhere that day, Turner said: “I’ve not sat on the horse before, so I can’t take much credit, but credit to David and the owner (Khalifa Dasmal) for chucking me up on him.”

Margot Did (2011)

Hayley Turner and Margot Did celebrate their Nunthorpe win in 2011 (John Giles/PA)

Despite being 20-1, Margot Did travelled sweetly throughout the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and, after hitting the front approaching the furlong pole, she kept on strongly to beat Hamish McGonagall by three-quarters of a length. Turner became the woman to win this Group One prize over five furlongs, after Alex Greaves had dead-heated on Ya Malak in 1997. Turner said: “I am just thrilled with how the race has gone. She’s a small filly, but she’s very tough. She liked having plenty of room and just blasted.”

Thanks Be (2019)

Hayley Turner poses with horse Thanks Be and trainer Charlie Fellowes (left) (Mike Egerton/PA)

Turner became only the second woman – and first since Gay Kelleway 32 years earlier – to ride a Royal Ascot winner when Charlie Fellowes’ 33-1 shot triumphed in the Sandringham Stakes. Thanks Be got home by a neck from the Queen’s Magnetic Charm, and Turner joked: “Fair play to Gay, she has had the bragging rights for a long time and now I can take them off her. Royal Ascot is different class – I’ve had winners all over the world and it is a buzz, but Royal Ascot is so unique and has so much history.”

Onassis (2020)

Onassis repeated the dose for Hayley Turned in the Sandringham (Megan Ridgwell/PA)

History repeated itself as Turner again teamed up with Fellowes to land the Sandringham for the second straight year, with this filly also going off as a 33-1 outsider. Turner produced Onassis from stall one on the previously unfavoured part of the track to hit the front and land a cosy triumph by a length and a quarter from Waliyak. No spectators were present due to Covid protocols, but the jockey said: “For us, nothing really changes, it’s still great to have a Royal Ascot winner whether people are here or not.”

Latin Lover (2022)

Latin Lover (purple and white quarters) burst out of the pack to win (David Davies/PA)

Another well-timed late surge saw this 5-1 chance pip Nymphadora in the dying strides of the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes, giving trainer Harry Eustace a maiden Royal Ascot victory with his first runner at the meeting. George Wood usually partnered the gelding but Turner proved a more than able deputy, stating: “It’s a bit unfortunate, but he can’t do the weight so it went in my favour.”

Docklands (2023)

Royal Ascot delight for Hayley Turner with Docklands (John Walton/PA)

Turner produced the Eustace-trained colt late on to land the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, coming with a tremendous rattle up the stands rail to collar New Endeavour in the closing strides. She said of the 6-1 favourite: “I honestly didn’t know until they called the photo whether I had won or not because the two horses were so far apart. It’s such a thrill.”