Callum Shepherd had just embarked on the trot back to paradise when it all became too much. He was eager to talk about the twin imposters of disappointment and elation but the enormity of the occasion led the dam to burst. Suddenly there were tears.
This had been a huge afternoon for the young jockey. He had ridden a fine race on Isle Of Jura, a gelding who has been expertly trained in Newmarket by George Scott, to land the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at 16-1 on Royal Ascot’s final day by three-and-three-quarter yawning lengths.
As the pair crossed the line, Shepherd stood up in his irons and roared, shaking his whip frantically. It was here all manner of thoughts came racing through his mind — the despair of losing a high-profile ride and the heartbreak of seeing a friend being taken too soon.
Shepherd has been in the headlines recently after Bill Gredley, the owner of Ambiente Friendly who is trained by James Fanshawe, decided on a whim to take the 26-year-old off the progressive colt before the Betfred Derby to replace him with Rab Havlin.
It was inexplicable and unfair but top-level sport can be this way. When Ambiente Friendly finished second to City of Troy at Epsom, Shepherd rode at Lingfield but, rather than sulking, he could apply perspective. He only had to think about his old weighing room colleague Stefano Cherchi, who had been killed in April after a fall in Canberra.
Callum Shepherd had just embarked on the trot back to paradise when it all became too much
Shepherd rode Isla of Jura to win The Hardwicke Stakes on day five of Royal Ascot
Shepherd stood up in his irons and roared, shaking his whip frantically after his historic win
‘You are either going to get beaten up by this sport or you put a brave face on,’ Shepherd said. ‘People don’t want to see you going around sulking and moaning. You put your life and soul into it and you want to get everything you can out of racing.
‘But Stefano, my friend, gave his life for this sport. How silly would it be if I was moaning about not riding a horse after what his family have had to go through? You can’t just dwell in a pit of despair. But sometimes…’ His voice cracked. ‘… days like these mean everything.’
‘I tried to soak up everything in the last 50 yards. I looked up at the stands to take it all in. I enjoy riding this horse. What a buzz. When you have had this taste, you want to do it again.’
No wonder. This was his and Scott’s first Royal Ascot winner and there is no reason why Isle Of Jura, who has now won five consecutive races stretching back to February of last year, cannot give him the big days in the sun that Ambiente Friendly, who is on target to contest next Sunday’s Irish Derby, was supposed to provide.
Shepherd had done all the hard yards on that horse, including steering him to the victory in Lingfield’s Derby Trial that had him earmarked as a serious performer. You only needed to look at his face to understand how much it stung.
‘Off the backdrop of what had been a productive six to nine months, everything was going swimmingly,’ Shepherd said. ‘But then it was well documented what happened. It is tough losing your seat on a horse — and a very good one at that. It just makes you so hungry and go out and do it on the rides you do keep.
‘I’d have hated the narrative of my year being me jocked off a horse. It needs to be about the horses that I’m riding and this one is very special. He is just wonderful. He’s earned his ticket to the top table.’
Those remarks could be applied to any number of the winners on this glorious afternoon, including the astonishing Bedtime Story, a filly trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, who won the Chesham Stakes by a scarcely-believable nine-and-a-half lengths.
Shepherd spoke fondly of his former weighing room colleague Stefano Cherchi (pictured) who had was killed in April after a fall in Canberra
This was Shepherd’s first Royal Ascot winner and there is no reason why Isle Of Jura, who has now won five consecutive races stretching back to February of last year, cannot give him more wins
She is now 3-1 favourite for next year’s QIPCO 1000 Guineas after providing O’Brien and Moore with their sixth winner of the week, enough to make them leading trainer and rider at the fixture for the 13th and 11th time respectively.
Then there was the enigmatic Khaadem, who retained the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes with a beautiful ride from Oisin Murphy, as he picked pockets in the final 100 yards to leave trainer Charlie Hills overcome. His career earnings are now £1.7million.
‘One day he’ll pick up the bridle and think he’s Nijinsky, the next you’d think he’s like a plater,’ said Hills, whose legendary father, Barry, is recovering from illness.
‘He knows more about the game than any of us, but is hugely talented and been an absolute pleasure to train.’
