Imaan Rasul-Healer steps in for Magnolia Cup victory

Imaan Rasul-Healer capped a whirlwind week when coming home victorious in this year’s Markel Magnolia Cup at Goodwood.

The 26-year-old, who works for Kevin Philippart De Foy in Newmarket, has a masters degree in equine performance was the first reserve for the contest after a series of unfortunate events meant she had to miss the final fitness test prior to selection for the race.

However, her luck would turn when the Press Association’s Molly Hunter had her own illness woes, allowing Rasul-Healer to take the mount aboard Scott Dixon’s Grey Horizon – racing in the Magnolia Cup under the name Khor Al Adaid – who came home handsomely for a clear-cut triumph.

Rasul-Healer, who becomes the second Muslim to win the race after Khadijah Mellah in 2019, said: “I have got no words, what a feeling and I didn’t think I was going to win but this is amazing.

“I only got on him for the first time last Friday and I thought yes, this horse is kind of cool and thank you to Scott for letting me ride him.

“Thanks also the team at Amo. I didn’t have any boots until one of the jockeys lent me some on Saturday and they sorted me a saddle out as well.

“I was in the process the whole way through and every single fitness test I seemed to be ill or something went wrong and then I fell off a two-year-old filly and got a concussion and wasn’t allowed to do the final fitness test.

“That’s why I was first reserve and thankfully I got in and the experience was amazing.

“We have all done this for the most amazing reason and it’s a charity race, it’s meant to be fun and enjoyable and raise plenty of money. Charity is everything and I’m the second Muslim to win this race and charity is very central to our religion.”

While there were celebrations for Rasul-Healer, it proved a bittersweet moment for Hunter, a journalist, who was on hand to congratulate the winning rider.

Having thoroughly enjoyed her training for this year’s event riding out for the likes of John Berry in Newmarket and Michael Herrington in Lincolnshire, she is now determined to put this year’s disappointment to one side and come back stronger for next year’s edition of the charity event.

Hunter said: “I’m thrilled for Imaan and she’s a lovely girl but I’m obviously disappointed to see the horse I was due to ride canter home. He’s a beautiful horse and she did a great job but it was a bit rough to watch.

“I’m delighted for Imaan though, she took the call up as first reserve only a week before the race which is a lot to get your head around in seven days and all credit to her, I’m really pleased for her.

“But it makes me all the more determined to be back next year and make a good fist of it. I highly suspect this horse won’t be rated low enough to run in it as he is rapid but hopefully in 12 months time it can be me celebrating.”

The winning horse has won six times under rules in 2026 during a rapid rise through the ranks and Dixon was thrilled to provide his thriving three-year-old for the contest, praising both the winning rider and commiserating the sidelined Hunter.

Dixon said: “This horse was due to be ridden by Molly but she fell ill and then Imaan stepped up as a reserve. She’s only been in twice to ride him but they got on well and he was perfect for this and tries very hard.

“He’s a strong-travelling horse who stays six which I think you need when running so hard over five here and he did it well.

“It’s a shame for Molly who was due to ride this horse, but best wishes to her and hopefully she is feeling better now.”

Rasul-Healer may command all the headlines post-race but before the off it was TV personality Gemma Owen that was garnering the majority of the attention.

Her father Michael Owen, the former footballer, was on hand to watch the ex-Love Island contestant in action and admitted to having some nervous father moments as the 23-year-old finished fourth on Hugo Palmer’s Phantom Watch, having missed the start.

Owen said: “It was quite strange and nerve-wracking worrying about her safety and everything like that. She’s a very capable rider but going 40mph on a horse is never the safest thing to do and when it’s your daughter then you are a little nervous.

“She missed the start by quite a bit which is frustrating and we all know how important that is – and she had been told a 100 times! But she rode well and did well.

“I came second in my race so I guess I have bragging rights for now, but I have a sneaky suspicion this won’t be the last one she does. They have these lady amateur races and Hugo was already talking to her about those and she might turn her hand to that, but who knows.

“There’s a race at Chester and York so that could be incredible if she enjoyed it enough.

“She’s as competitive as me so I suspect she’ll be disappointed and she’s been an international dressage rider for nine years so she knows all about competition and pressure.

“But hopefully she enjoyed it.”