Top British jockey Tom Marquand, 22, will now be sponsored by Bahrain’s Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) as he enters his second Epsom Derby, having made his British Classic debut at the prestigious race last year.

“It is a huge honour to be sponsored by the REHC,” Marquand told the GDN.

“The impact here in the UK and back in Bahrain the country is having on horseracing is massive. We have seen plenty of Bahraini-owned horses like Golden Horde, A’Ali and Daahyeh all win at Royal Ascot in recent years, whilst the quality of horses running in the Bahrain International Trophy has grown massively since its introduction.

“It’s a very exciting time for Bahrain and I am very happy to be a part of helping it to get to the next level.”

Marquand has won five Group 1 horse races including three in Australia, one at Doncaster, England’s renowned 2020 St Leger flat horse race, riding atop the champion Galileo Chrome and another at the Champion Stakes in Britain, atop Addeybb.

He will be riding Youth Spirit in tomorrow’s Epsom Derby. Youth Spirit is trained by Andrew Balding who himself hails from a legendary line of horse trainers. The three-year-old Irish horse won his Derby Trial at Chester under Marquand and arrives at Epsom in great form.

Marquand finished second on Khalifa Sat in last year’s Derby and is hoping to take home the top prize this year.

“The REHC is very proud to be sponsoring Tom Marquand,” a spokesperson from the horseracing club commented, in a statement.

“Marquand has proven to be one of the best young jockeys in the world over the course of the last few seasons.

“2020 was a landmark year for Marquand. He rode four Group 1 winning-horses including a first British Classic on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Galileo Chrome in the St Leger. He rode 147 UK winners last year (third most) and also finished second in the Derby.

“Despite 2020 being a tough year for most, it was actually a brilliant year for Marquand on the track. He has received more chances in the top races and in 2021 looks sure to challenge for the British Jockeys’ Championship.”

First started in 1780, the Epsom Derby, also known as the Derby Stakes, is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey on the first Saturday of June each year, over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 6 yards (2.420km).

The most prestigious of the five British Classic group 1 races, it is considered ‘one of Britain’s great national sporting events’ and has a large worldwide TV audience.

naman@gulfweekly.com