Qatari jockey Khadija in 'paradise' as she goes for glory at Goodwood

Twelve days ago Khadija Al Bastaki received a telephone call she hopes will prove life changing – not only for her but also for many other girls in her homeland of Qatar.

The 34-year-old was asked if she would be an emergency replacement in Friday's Magnolia Cup, the showpiece race at Goodwood for amateur women jockeys and an event which raises huge amounts of money for charity.

Khadija jumped at the chance and dropped everything to fly to England which she describes, despite the incessant rain, as ‘paradise'.

“It is a dream come true, I am so excited, so happy” says Khadija, for whom the past few days have been a whirlwind of activity at the British Racing School in Newmarket, where she has been staying ahead of the race on Ladies’ Day at the festival fondly known as ‘Glorious Goodwood'.

She has had to undergo rigorous fitness and technical skills tests under the watchful eye of the BRS’s international jockey coach Michael Tebbutt, who has pushed her hard, as well as simulator training to ensure she is up to the requisite standard demanded by the prestigious race.

That she had no problem passing is no surprise. She has been an amateur jockey for 16 years in Qatar where she has ridden 10 winners, both on thoroughbreds and Arab horses.

Her only concern was fitness given racing in Qatar shuts down in April for the summer, but she proved up to the task, having continued training in the off season with daily visits to the gym, 8km runs twice a week and juggling riding with family commitments. Although small in stature at only 1.58m and 46kg, she is more than capable of handling a thoroughbred weighing half a tonne.

Khadija, the mother of a three-year-old daughter, will be one of 12 amateur jockeys who are competing in the