She’s got the bug Luisa plans to buy a horse after charity outing
LUISA Zissman is planning her next big business deal from a yacht off the French Riviera. In the company of former TOWIE star Sam Faiers, the 32-year-old is catching some final rays before putting leg one of her plan into action.
It involves half a tonne of horsepower, a gruelling fitness regime and nerves of steel.
Having once faced no-nonsense boss Lord Alan Sugar, The Apprentice runner-up of 2013 seems an ideal candidate.
But she admits learning to become a jockey is much more of a challenge than she anticipated.
Once her charity race is under starter’s orders at Glorious Goodwood on August 1, she’ll swap the weighing room for a plush racecourse suite.
That’s because the mum-of-three and previous Celebrity Big Brother contestant will dip her toe into racehorse ownership shortly after.
“I am hooked, I have caught the racing bug,” she said.
“I didn’t hesitate when I was asked to ride in the race. It seemed like an amazing thing to do.
“I’d say I underestimated how hard it was going to be but I love it.
“I’m probably fitter now than I ever have been.”
All riders in Thursday’s Magnolia Cup, including fellow celebrities Vogue Williams and Victoria Pendleton, have to pass an Army-style fitness assessment in the build-up.
No areas of the body are off limits in the workout, which includes squats, running and holding the plank for several minutes.
It’s certainly a case of ‘no pain, no gain,’ all in aid of the UK’S leading women’s reproductive and gynaecological health charity ‘Wellbeing of Women.’
With her Loose Lips podcast companion and Celebs Go Dating love guru Anna Williamson, Luisa raised £11,000 at a special brunch-style event ahead of the big race on Ladies Day.
“Every single woman can relate to the charity,” she continued.
“As a group of us we are up to £50,000 and that can literally start a clinical trial into solving something they are looking at, which at the moment is ovarian cancer.
“I recently enjoyed a visit to their office in London to find out more about their work.”
Before setting sail for her break from business and motherhood, Luisa packed as many training sessions into her schedule as possible.
Fortunately the famous words ‘You’re fired’ have not been uttered by Newmarket trainer George Scott, who is letting the TV personality loose on
Phosphorescence in the race.
Before the professionals battle for a share of £5.5 million in prize money, they’ll thunder five-and-a-half-furlongs down Goodwood’s straight in front of a capacity crowd of 25,000 people.
And although Luisa has been riding horses since she was four-years-old, nothing prepared her for the encounter with a feisty thoroughbred.
“I was so scared when I first sat on a racehorse,” she said, referring to a trip to the stables of Dean Ivory near her home.
“I was asked to do the race in February and have been gradually going faster up the gallops since, getting to know different horses.
“Phosphorescence is very strong. He likes to take hold of you. He has took off with me a few times.
“But he’s lovely really, a complete sweetheart who loves galloping. Hopefully I’ll have a good shot of winning.”
One of their main rivals is expected to be former Olympic champion cyclist Victoria Pendleton.
She famously swapped saddles to learn how to ride for the Cheltenham Festival’s Foxhunter Chase in 2016.
The brave sportswoman safely negotiated all of the fences on Pacha Du Polder, before guiding him into a more than creditable fifth place.
She has continued her horse-related pursuits and Luisa plans to do so too after crossing the line.
The adrenaline rush and excitement is far from over.
“I fly back from France on Wednesday and the next time I will sit on ‘Phos’ will be in the race,” she adds.
“I hope we can do well and do George proud. So many people have been really helpful, including my jockey coach Michael Hills and I just want to ride a good race now.
“I would love to keep this up. I plan to ride out and may even go for an amateur licence.
“I’m also going to buy a racehorse, we’re off to the sales in Ireland in October.
“I would love to have a winner at Ascot or Cheltenham. Watch this space.”