Photo of the month

Marco Ghiani (right) receiving his award from the legendary Lester Piggott

MARCO GHIANI was crowned this year’s British Champion Apprentice winner on British Champions Day at Ascot by the former 11-time champion jockey, the 85-year-old Lester Piggott.

Ghiani, who finished 16 winners clear of his closest challenger Saffie Osborne, won the All-Weather Championships title last winter, and made the most of that momentum heading into the Turf season.

The 22-year-old has ridden 51 winners since May 1, including a first Royal Ascot success on Godolphin’s Real World in the Royal Hunt Cup and a first Group race victory on the same horse in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes at York.

Born in Sardinia, Ghiani moved to Newmarket at the age of 16. After a stint at the British Racing School, he honed his riding and language skills with trainer Luca Cumani before joining fellow Newmarket handler Stuart Williams on Cumani’s retirement in December 2018.

Ghiani, who rode out his claim at Yarmouth on July 1, said: “To be crowned champion apprentice is a dream come true and I am very thankful to all the people who have helped me along on this journey.

“The British Racing School played a big part in my development. Without them, I probably wouldn’t be here because my father wanted me to do everything properly rather than just working in a yard and not having a clue what I was doing.

“It was quite hard here for the first couple of years. I did not know anything of England and couldn’t speak very good English, so it was hard to communicate. I almost moved back home but Luca persuaded me to stay, and a few months later I got my licence.

“Stuart Williams raised me up after Luca retired. He gave me my first winner and has supported me with lots of rides. He has been very supportive, and I am very grateful for it.

“I was just about to lose my claim when I rode my first Royal Ascot winner. I couldn’t really believe what I’d done, it was such a good feeling, and I did not want to jump off the horse afterwards – I just wanted to stroke him!

“I do not have to look after my claim anymore, so the ambition now is to ride as many winners as I can and maybe ride a few horses for some of the big trainers.”