By Ray Hickson
Ahmad may be a horse that doesn't reach the heights of racing but he won't be forgotten any time soon by jockey Shaun Guymer following an amazing incident at Nowra on Monday.
The 26-year-old hoop became a social media sensation for his amazing horsemanship and trapeze act on the gelding who tripped on his own shoe just metres from the post in the Shoalhaven Water Handicap (1600m).
Guymer said he was certain he'd hit the deck as he was thrown over Ahmad's head but described how he clung on when the horse righted himself.
"When he was taking his stride the back foot got caught on his front shoe and brought that leg down,'' Guymer said.
"That was going to be his next stride but he landed on his knee then his head but he clawed his way back up again thank god.
"Once I felt him pick himself up it was a matter of me trying to scramble to get back on. All my weight was on the right side.''
Scramble he did and while it won't look the most stylish of winning photos it's a win the horse's connections and trainers Edward O'Rourke and Michael Freedman owe to Guymer's reflexes.
A incredible effort by jockey @guymer_shaun to stay in the saddle as Ahmad stumbled across the finish line in the sixth at Nowra today. pic.twitter.com/xzOWrR9R97
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 14, 2019
The jockey said in the space of a few seconds he went from being set for a comfortable win to potential disaster for himself and Ahmad.
Fortunately for horse and rider both came through unscathed and he doesn't have to rue what would have been as he kept his unbeaten record on the four-year-old intact.
"He was going to win by a good length. It all happened so quickly,'' he said.
"One second I was going down and the next he picked himself up. I thought I was gone for all money.
"I'm looking down at the grass and thinking 'I hope it's nice and soft'.''
When he ventured to Nowra for three rides Guymer hoped for a winner or two but definitely didn't think one would come in such dramatic circumstances.
He will have a day or two to take in what happened before he's back in the saddle again possibly at Gosford on Thursday then Canberra on Friday.
"I've had a few photos sent to me, I've got one leg up above my head and the other still in the iron. It's something I'll never forget,'' he said.
"It'll be one to go up on the mantelpiece.''