2018 Magnolia Cup launches

2018 Goodwood Magnolia Cup launches in London

On a beautiful evening at The Ivy in London, the inspirational riders and silk designer for the 2018 Magnolia Cup assembled to launch the event for Cancer Research UK, this year’s charity race partner.

In attendance were some of the twelve incredible ladies who will be riding in the race this year; Dr Amanda Cross, Emily Baxendale, Holly-Ella, Melissa Margolis, Rosie Tapner, Sarah Cook, Shadi Halliwell and Victoria Gray.

Morvarid Sahafi, Morv London designer and female empowerment campaigner, was displaying for the first time the stunning jockey silks that she has crafted specifically for the race. It was a wonderful opportunity for her to meet the brave riders who will sport these silks on Thursday 2 August at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

So far, nearly £10,000 has been raised through a silent auction and raffle on the night, with one of the lots being a silk designed by Morv London and featuring her Suffragette print, inspired by the women who fought to win the right to vote 100 years ago.

The Duke of Richmond, Chairman of Goodwood Racecourse, gave a speech to the guests, saying; “Whether they have spent their careers tirelessly training in medicine, or fighting to reach the upper echelons of business, fighting to be heard in politics or media, fighting for the rights of others, fighting to compete at elite levels of sport or fighting to realise a creative vision, the women of the Magnolia Cup all share the indefatigable spirit it takes to dare, to achieve, to become an inspiration.”

Dr Amanda Cross, who is a researcher at Imperial College, London, funded by Cancer Research UK, also provided a speech on the night. She said; “Without money raised by the charity at events like today, and partnerships like the Magnolia Cup, my team of experts who dedicate their lives to beating cancer sooner simply wouldn’t exist and we wouldn’t be able to do the research we do.

“I am honoured to be part of this exciting collaboration which brings together my love of horses and my passion for cancer research – I just didn’t anticipate having to go so fast on a horse to raise money for Cancer Research UK!”

(ENDS)

Editor’s Notes:

For additional images of the Magnolia Cup launch, please visit https://www.goodwood.com/media-centre/

To follow the riders as they train for the Magnolia Cup, including facing a gruelling assessment at the British Racing School, please visit Goodwood Racecourse’s social media channels.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/goodwoodracecourse   

Twitter: www.twitter.com/goodwood_races   

Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodwood_races

About the Qatar Goodwood Festival:

Once described by King Edward VII as ‘a garden party with racing tacked on,’ this world-famous five-day festival – popularly known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’ – is one of the highlights of the flat racing season. Over 100,000 people flock to the world’s most beautiful racecourse to enjoy top class racing and entertainment, including the £1million Qatar Sussex Stakes, the cavalry charge that is the Qatar Steward’s Cup and the marathon Qatar Goodwood Cup.

The 2018 event takes place from Tuesday 31 July to Saturday 4 August and Qatar continues its generous support of the week, with prize money totalling over £5million.

Tickets and hospitality packages for all of Goodwood’s 2018 fixtures can be purchased at Goodwood.com or by calling 01243 755055.

For editorial enquiries please contact:

Laura Gilbert-Burke or Sam Hanson in the Goodwood Press Office: 01243 755 000, laura.gilbert-burke@goodwood.com / sam.hanson@goodwood.com

About Cancer Research UK

• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
• Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives.
• Cancer Research UK receives no funding from the UK government for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on vital donations from the public.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years.
• Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK’s ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

For further information about Cancer Research UK's work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow Cancer Research UK on Twitter and Facebook.