'You can't dwell in the pit of despair' - Callum Shepherd bounces back as electric Isle Of Jura lands Hardwicke Stakes

Sport has an uncanny way of uplifting the dejected and Callum Shepherd acknowledged the best and worst of life after Isle Of Jura won the Hardwicke Stakes in brilliant style.

The rider stood up in his irons to salute the crowd and punched the air with ecstasy when his mount crossed the finish clear of a sparkling field to claim the biggest success of his career.

The explosive celebration prompted reflective scenes in the winner's enclosure as Shepherd struggled to contain the tremble in his voice when speaking of his friend Stefano Cherchi. 

The jockey lost his life following a race fall in Australia in April, after which Shepherd rode Ambiente Friendly to win the Lingfield Derby Trial in May. He then lost the ride to Robert Havlin in the Epsom Classic three weeks ago. 

"When I crossed the line, I just looked at the stands and tried to soak up as much of it as I could," he said. "I'm lucky to be doing what I'm doing. You can't dwell in the pit of despair, even if it might seem attractive at times. 

"You're either going to get beat up by this sport or you’re going to have to have the resolve to go out there and put a brave face on. People don’t want to see you going around sulking and moaning. 

"We give our life and soul to this game to get everything you can out of this sport. My friend Stefano Cherci quite literally gave his life, and how silly would it be if I was moaning about losing rides with what his family have had to go through?"

Callum Shepherd salutes the crowd as he crosses the line in front on Isle Of JuraCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On Ambiente Friendly, who finished second in the Derby under Havlin, Shepherd said: "It's tough giving up your seat on a horse and a very good one at that. It just makes you so hungry to go out and do that on the rides that you do keep. I would have hated the narrative of my year to be getting jocked off a horse. It needed to be about the horses I was riding and this is a very special one."

There was no better way for Shepherd to silence his doubters than with a first Ascot success and he ended a 65-race drought at the royal course with a devastating performance. It puts him and Isle Of Jura on the cusp of a Group 1 breakthrough.

"I really enjoy riding this horse and at this occasion, it gives me such a buzz," he said. "Once you've had a taste of it you just want to do it over and over again, so the ambition is to make sure this isn't a one-off."

Shepherd and Isle Of Jura's partnership strengthened in the desert heat with success in Bahrain's Triple Crown this winter and now they will get the chance to perform in Britain's premier events.

The towering four-year-old took this step up to Group company in his stride, settling quietly in fourth position as Elegant Man led the well-supported Candleford. He swiftly reached the pair when asked to improve at the entrance to the home straight before striking the front approaching the final furlong.

The same powerful finish which saw him land the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood last month this time catapulted him three and three-quarter lengths clear of the French-trained Goliath, with Middle Earth running on into third. 

The victory was also a key moment for George Scott, who was saddling his first winner at the meeting. 

"The finish was a moment I'll never forget," the trainer said. "Everything stopped for a minute and I could enjoy the last half-furlong. Most best-laid plans go to pot, but this has been a long-term plan and this was the obvious race for him.

"He's improved all the time and has been a pleasure to train. He's just kept improving physically — he's the most ginormous horse. He's a beautiful mover and a lot of hard work has gone into him at home.

"It was a scintillating performance, so we'll enjoy it. All roads lead to the King George, 100 percent."

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