At the world’s most prestigious flat racing festival, trainer George Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd return with ambition, confidence, and memories of magic. After their breakout win with Isle Of Jura in 2023, the duo are ready to chase more glory—and bring a proper team to the party.
A week like no other
For many in the racing world, Royal Ascot is more than just a week on the calendar—it’s a culmination of dreams. For Newmarket trainer George Scott, it evokes the scale and spectacle of some of the world’s greatest sporting events.
“It’s such a special meeting, it’s like no other week in racing,” Scott says. “You could sort of equate it to FA Cup finals, Ryder Cups—those kinds of moments.”
Last year, Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd celebrated one of those moments when Isle Of Jura stormed to victory in the Hardwicke Stakes. It was a win that not only crowned a fruitful season but also marked an emotional turning point in both of their careers. This year, they return to Royal Ascot with renewed ambition and, for the first time, a full team of competitive runners from Scott’s Eve Lodge Stables. “I’m just excited to take a bunch of horses there in this form—this is the first time we’ve taken a proper team,” he tells BBC Look East.
A season of success—and sorrow
Scott’s trajectory has been rising steadily, but 2024 has been a standout. With 48 winners at home and abroad, including further success in Dubai, Bahrain, and the German St Leger, it’s already his most successful year as a trainer since starting out a decade ago.
But for Shepherd, last year’s Ascot triumph carried a deeper emotional resonance. Just months earlier, he lost his friend and fellow jockey Stefano Cherchi, who died following a fall in Australia. And days before Royal Ascot, he was replaced as the rider of Ambiente Friendly—who went on to finish second in the Derby. “It’s the best moment I’ve ever had on a horse, the best moment I’ve ever had in sport,” Shepherd, now 27, recalls of his win on Isle Of Jura. “The buzz was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
That day at Ascot marked the beginning of a rich vein of form for both horse and rider, one that spilled into international victories over the winter. “That day just felt like the start of something big,” Shepherd says. “It was magic.”
Trust, understanding, and the making of a partnership
While the racing world often focuses on raw results, the bond between a trainer and jockey can be what truly fuels success. In the case of Scott and Shepherd, their professional relationship is built on years of work, quiet confidence, and mutual understanding. “We really do have an excellent working relationship,” says Shepherd. “We’ve had success all over the world now, and we understand each other very well.”
Scott echoes the sentiment. “We knit together nicely. We’re lucky to have Callum. It’s really been the perfect pair. He’s on this upward trajectory for the first time, as am I, and I’m really enjoying the fact that we’re doing it together.”
Both men emphasize the importance of trust. “If things haven’t gone to plan—if I’ve prepared the horse wrong or run it in the wrong race—Callum’s not snapping back at me. And I wouldn’t be too critical of him either,” Scott says. “It’s a give-take type of thing.” They no longer need long conversations before a race. “He knows I’ve done my homework,” says Shepherd. “He trusts me to know the horses. It works pretty well.”
Rising stars and Royal Ascot hopes
This week, Scott expects to saddle nine or ten horses across the five-day festival, with several strong prospects and more than a few hopefuls. One of his most promising entries is the filly Staya, set to run in Wednesday’s Queen Mary Stakes. “She’s only run once and won very impressively at Yarmouth,” Scott explains. “She’s by Havana Grey, who’s doing fantastically at stud—especially with his two-year-olds. She’s near the head of the market, so we’re hoping for a big run.”
Another newcomer to watch is Gaga Mate in the Windsor Castle Stakes. “He seems very uncomplicated,” says Scott. “Everything’s sort of straightforward with him. He’s moving well and looks the part.” The first day of the festival will also see Scott enter runners in the King Charles III Stakes, Wolferton Stakes, and Copper House Handicap. While ten runners over five days may seem like a logistical challenge, Scott finds it manageable. “The more horses go into the big meetings, the more pressure—but this feels very doable,” he says.
He also puts things into perspective. “It’s really amazing when you think about someone like Willie Mullins, who takes 50 or 60 horses to the Cheltenham Festival.”
A hunger for more
For Shepherd, the return to Ascot brings not just nostalgia, but a burning hunger to repeat the feeling of last year’s triumph. “I go into it with a lot of excitement,” he says. “There’s a lot of live chances. I’ve got some good rides for other people as well, not just George.”
The experience of winning on the big stage has left its mark. “The confidence you take from having been there and done it before puts you in a good position to go and do it again,” he says. “And once you’ve done it once, you want to do it again—believe me.”
As the sun rises over Berkshire this week and the thunder of hooves returns to Royal Ascot’s hallowed turf, Scott and Shepherd will once again chase something golden—moments of magic, written in furlongs, partnerships, and faith.
