THE first woman to win the Grand Military Gold Cup is now training to join professional race fields.

However Sally Randell 24, a student at Hartpury College, says she still plans to keep her amateur status.

After winning the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown, riding eight year-old Oakfield Legend (Bertie), Sally was delighted to be invited to a drinks party at Windsor Castle to meet the Queen.

"It was all a bit surreal, especially now, looking back on it! she said. "The Queen knows her racing and is very switched on and asked me about another race I had been in recently.

"I rode in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup and was just coming to the last fence, just behind the winning horse. The mare I was riding was a bit of an outsider and she just ran her heart out, but she was tired and made a big mistake, so we lost out. The Queen had seen it and asked me about it!"

The Grand Military Gold Cup is open to people who have been in the Forces and Sally hopes to ride the same horse to victory again next year.

Sally said: "The Military Gold is a good race to win. It is a £12,000 race, but I think he has a £30,000 race in him.

"He is a seriously good horse – probably the best horse I've ever sat on."

Sally is not yet licenced to ride with professionals, but plans to do a week's course at Newmarket in the middle of May to hone her skills.

Sally is training for a degree in sports coaching science and prefers to keep riding as a hobby. She wants to become a PE teacher.

Her grandfather bought her a Shetland pony at the age of five and she began riding racehorses when she was about 16.

"I have a big passion for horses," she said. "You're on an animal and you can get this amazing partnership and get them to do what you want."

She says she is grateful for the support of her employer, trainer Dai Williams.