Success is baked for rising star apprentice jockey Jaylah Kennedy
Rising star Jaylah Kennedy is second in pursuit of the Melbourne apprentice jockey title but certainly atop the popularity stakes for sharing home-baked sweet treats on race day.
A decadent batch of 'brookies', combined brownie and chocolate chip cookie slice, cut into jockey portion-sized squares, attracted rave reviews last Wednesday at Sandown.
Kennedy is lucky to be genetically-blessed to indulge her passion for cooking and baking, an unlikely pastime for most jockeys given the importance of weight management.
'It's a little thing I enjoy doing on the side, when I'm not riding light,' Kennedy said.
'It's cold in winter, so nice to bring something in that can warm peoples' tummies.
'I love cooking, I love baking, I just bought a house and it's got a nice kitchen so I'm making use of it.
'I'm lucky I'm four foot nine … any taller and if I cooked and bake like I do, I probably wouldn't be a jockey.'
Jockeys, trainers, race-day officials and stewards polished the brookies last Wednesday.
'I told the stewards they can't suspend me if they're going to eat my baking,' Kennedy laughed.
'I made them bite-sized jockey pieces so everyone could enjoy.'
Kennedy has six rides at Flemington on Saturday, including the electric Bold Bastille in the last.
'She's naturally very speedy, I made my way to Werribee the other day to trial her, hoping to keep her race day first-up, and she did everything right,' Kennedy said.
'She pulled up like a horse ready to go to the races now … first up she could be maybe that little bit vulnerable late but … she'll be there to take a bit of running down.'
Kennedy has ridden 20 city winners to date this season, one less than clubhouse leader Tom Prebble, a friend and fellow fourth-year apprentice.
Prebble has the stronger hand on Saturday with six rides, including favourites Splash Back and Jimmy The Bear.
'I've been going to the races thinking anything can happen lately,' Kennedy said.
'An open book and try not to overthink this. Hopefully it's a good weekend.
'It comes down to the support you've got around you, I've been getting a lot of good opportunities with a lot of big stables … it's always good to be able to repay them.
'This is my first full season riding in town and I'm happy with how things are going, hopefully we can tick off the metro premiership, it's a really big goal of mine this season.
'It's pretty competitive between me and Tom Prebble, he's one of my best mates but at the same I'd be happy to be in first place and him second.'
Apprentice jockeys rode five of the nine winners last Saturday at Sandown.
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Flemington victory next as Rose blooms
A dream Flemington winner would cap a memorable week for apprentice jockey Rose Hammond.
Hammond the past seven days has doubled her tally of city winners, now up to four, with success at Sandown Hillside last Saturday and Wednesday respectively.
The Melbourne-based Echuca export has two rides at Headquarters on Saturday including the Matt Laurie -trained Yulong-owned filly Sun Setting, a $21 outsider in a competitive 1100m race.
Sun Setting has won comfortably the past two starts at Moe and Mornington.
'I'm really excited for her,' Hammond said.
'A huge thank you to (Laurie), he's been a great supporter of mine and backs me.
'Hopefully I get the job done for him … in the Yulong colours, so really keen for that.'
Hammond is determined to make up for lost time, as early injury setbacks hampered her progress and riding development.
The 22-year-old suffered a broken leg in track work, before she even started her apprenticeship, and then missed time with a fractured collarbone and multiple concussions.
'I've always wanted to be a jockey so that determination is in me, I couldn't think of doing anything else, I love my job,' Hammond said.
'Hopefully the next two years (of apprenticeship) are smooth sailing, got the injuries out of the way.
'I know I've got a lot of improvement to come so hopefully I can keep working on my craft and get momentum.'
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