First success is the sweetest for emotional Shepherd
Isle of Jura’s Hardwicke triumph meant so much.
A first ever Royal Ascot winner is in itself a poignant moment, but the emotion seemed to run a little deeper than usual for Callum Shepherd when winning the Hardwicke Stakes aboard Isle Of Jura. The 26-year-old has enjoyed a prosperous partnership with the horse since he joined trainer George Scott’s stable, faring particularly well throughout the winter in Bahrain – the homeland of his owner Sheikh Nasser. Though Isle Of Jura’s continued success has given the Shepherd much to celebrate, there was a significant and much-discussed low point for him earlier this year when the Derby came around in June. Shepherd was due to ride James Fanshawe’s Ambiente Friendly in the Classic, aboard whom he was the wide-margin winner of both the Feilden Stakes and the Lingfield Derby Trial. The Gredley family, owners of the colt, opted to replace him in favour of Robert Havlin, however, and Shepherd had no choice but to look on as the horse finished second behind City Of Troy.The rider remained dignified in the aftermath as others expressed indignation on his behalf, and clearly redirected his focus on the next big meeting when heading to Royal Ascot with rides on each day. Isle Of Jura, though 16-1 for the Group Two Hardwick Stakes, must have been the most anticipated among them after his two Listed successes this year and after a smooth passage though the race, he strode to a brilliant three-and-a-quarter-length victory under an emotional and reflective Shepherd. “I couldn’t be more grateful to the horse and his connections, we’ve been on a great journey,” he said. “George has shown me such loyal support and this horse has been a revelation, he’s just stepped up and he’s been fantastic.
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