Callum Shepherd（born 1997）is a Group race winning British jockey who competes in flat racing.
| Callum Shepherd | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | 5 August 1997 Brighton, East Sussex |
| Nationality | British |
Background
editShepherd was born in Brighton, in 1997, the son of two lawyers. He took part in pony racing, and rode out for trainers during school holidays. He left Lancing College after taking his GCSEs, and became apprenticed to trainer Charlie Hills in Lambourn.[1] Shepherd's twin brother Laird is a golfer who won The Amateur Championship in 2021.[1][2]
Racing career
editIn 2020, Shepherd moved from Lambourn to Newmarket, Suffolk, having been retained by owners the Gredley family. That season he rode 77 winners.[1] He had his first opportunity to ride in a Group 1 race and a British Classic in the 2021 Oaks on Save A Forest, a 40/1 outsider owned by the Gredley family and trained by Roger Varian.[1] The pair came fourth, and then went on to win the listed Chalice Stakes at Newmarket the following month.[3] During the winter of 2023/24 Shepherd rode in Bahrain, where his successes included winning the Bahrain Triple Crown on Isle of Jura for trainer George Scott.[4] In May 2024, he achieved his first victory in a Group race when Seven Questions, trained by Scott, won the Group 3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.[5] The same month, he won the Lingfield Derby Trial on Ambiente Friendly for trainer James Fanshawe and was looking forward to a first ride in the Derby on the same horse but was disappointed when the Gredley owners opted for the more experienced Robert Havlin.[6] Ambiente Friendly went on to take second place in the Derby, having started as second favourite. Shepherd secured his first Royal Ascot success in 2024, when he partnered Isle of Jura to victory in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Shepherd steps up to challenge of tackling Oaks on 40/1 'trier'". The Daily Telegraph. 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Laird Shepherd pulls off craziest comeback in British Amateur history, wins after being 8 down in final match". Golf Digest. 19 June 2021.
- ^ "Newmarket review: Save A Forest wins feature". Sporting Life. 31 July 2021.
- ^ a b "'Incredible' Bedtime Story routs Royal Ascot rivals". BBC Sport. 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Callum Shepherd". Racing Post. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "'I can't see the logic' - Derby-winning jockey questions decision as Callum Shepherd is jocked off Epsom second favourite". Racing Post. 22 May 2024.