Nilsson won the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Championship in Toulouse, France, riding Laft Nether
11 June 2016, USA ~ Congratulations Yasmine on winning a berth to the Abu Dhabi Ladies World Championship Final in November. Horsereporter fans would love to hear how you trained for your winning ride.
YN: I’m 22 years old and live in Hörby, Skåne, Sweden. It takes one hour by car to get to Jägersro, Malmö, which is my main racing trainer track.
I’ve been riding my entire life. The first time I sat on a horse I was one years old. I didn’t start at a riding school until I was five years old. I began riding out racehorses when I was 12 at a farm close to where I live for trainer Tommy Ahlbeck. He taught me a lot but most important he told me ‘The only thing that counts is the time you put in the saddle. This is the only way to be good’. So I did as he said. I was riding out before school, after school, weekends, and holidays.
I have mostly ridden Thoroughbred horses as Arabian racing is not that big here in Scandinavia. I started racing in 2010 when I was 16 years old and I ride between 20-30 races a year. I first rode in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship 2012 in Germany and Poland (finished 3rd) and in Los Angeles in 2013. My race record is 106 races, 12 winners, 11 seconds and 20 thirds.
HR: Yasmine does not plan to be a professional jockey.
YN: My mother owns a supermarket in Sweden, and I work there with her full-time. My lowest riding weight is 58 kgs so I would be too heavy to ride as a professional, but I have been an amateur trainer since I was 18 years old. My riding goal is to improve my riding. I still have a lot to learn and I want to keep being as good as I can as an amateur rider and keep having fun.
I haven’t trained a Superstar yet but I have trained one purebred Arabian in 2014, Mad Makz. He started that year with a rating of 59 and ended the year with 81. He won the Wathba Stud Farm Cup (Gr3) at Jägersro in the Autumn of 2014. That is my biggest win as a trainer to date.
Right now I have three Thoroughbreds in training and one Thoroughbred broodmare. Since I train outside the racetrack I ride a good deal on the beach and in the water, which the horses and I both appreciate.
HR: How was your mount in France?
YN: Laft Nethar was an amazing horse. He was very classy and well-trained if a little unexperienced since it only was his second race. My orders were mainly to let the horse do what I wanted. If he took the front I should let him go there. He did take the front and went very easy the whole way.
HR: Do your parents support you in racing?
YN: My parents are not into racing at all. They did not support it from the beginning, mostly because it was hard work and did not pay well. I think they wanted me to study and get a good career. A good career was also in my plan, but not to study more than necessary. Now when I’m looking back at my life I couldn’t be more proud of myself. I still have a long way to go and much to learn in racing, but I’m looking forward to the future.
HR: Any problems that you have encountered in racing?
YN: I have to struggle a little to make the low weights. I did fall off one time in a race. It was in the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship in Los Angeles 2013. Close before the finish line my horse got surprised by the horse coming on the inside, so he hesitated and jumped to the side and I fell off. I didn’t get hurt at all though.
HR: Have you ever been to Abu Dhabi?
YN: I was in Abu Dhabi 2012 and watched the final race. It was an amazing week. I can’t wait to go there in November for the final. To meet all the amazing people with the same interest for horse racing that will be in Abu Dhabi is a blessing. I’m so thankful for this opportunity.
HR: Thank you Yasmine, and best of luck in November.