Latest news with #apprenticeJockey
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
How jockey Tom Prebble went from novice to leading apprentice in five years
Leading apprentice Tom Prebble has sights only on the next horse – and winner – as he continues to navigate a steep riding education. Despite an elite pedigree Prebble, 23, son of champion jockey Brett Prebble and Maree Payne, only learned to ride in 2020 under the tutelage of Steven and Jess Pateman. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The third-year apprentice has ridden 114 winners to date, including 49 statewide this season. The 21 metro winners this season, two more than nearest apprentice rival Jaylah Kennedy (19), included a breakthrough Listed victory last month at Flemington. 'It's probably not very Prebble-like of me, but I don't look up where I am (standings),' Prebble said. 'I want to keep winning every race and if I end up in front, that'd be great.' Prebble has seven rides at Flemington on Saturday, including Jimmy The Bear in the VOBIS Gold Mile. He scored a Caulfield double last Saturday with wins on Splash Back and Jimmy The Bear. 'I was pretty quiet the Saturday prior, but I was very fortunate Grahame Begg and Patrick (Payne), my boss, were able to give me some nice steers,' Prebble said. 'With a lot of the top dogs (senior jockeys) going north it leaves us apprentices more of a chance. 'The more rides you get the more confidence you get.' • Brown prepares second horse with same name 20 years later A strong work ethic and support network has helped fast-track Prebble's development and progression. 'It also puts a bit more pressure on me as well (surname), I'm probably expected of a bit more than I should be … I haven't been riding for that long,' Prebble said. 'I'm still learning every day. The main thing is I continue to ride, I ride 10-15 horses a day sometimes. You got to learn at some point how to hold on!' Prebble remains indebted to the Patemans for their early guidance. 'I really owe everything to Jess and Steve because I hadn't really touched a horse at all,' Prebble said. 'I didn't even know how to get on a horse. They helped me with all the basics and I was able to find I did actually love doing what I do and progressed with that.' Champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman knew Prebble would make the grade despite being 'very, very green'. 'One time, it happens to all kids learning, he was at the end of the beach and struggling a bit,' Pateman laughed. 'He said I can't ride back from the end of the beach and I was like, it's a long walk and off we bowled. He was still there at the end of it! 'He just had the best attitude and beautiful natural seat (riding posture), we know where he's got that from (parents). 'We knew early days he would make it … he's on the road to the top really. 'When he's a Group 1 jockey hopefully he remembers us, when we get a good one and want to ride it.' Keane eager to notch metro milestone Apprentice jockey Dakotah Keane wants to punch out an important career milestone on Saturday at Flemington. Keane, a former state and national junior title-winning boxer, was denied a first Saturday city winner in Melbourne last week at Caulfield, placed aboard Chinqui and 'beaten a nose' on Extreme Virtue. The 21-year-old, fresh off a 'dream' win in the iconic royal blue Godolphin silks last Wednesday, will pilot fancied Avebury and Ahha Ahha in respective races at Flemington. 'I've got two good chances,' Keane said. 'I've drawn a bit sticky so it'll make it a bit awkward, hopefully we can keep the luck rolling. 'I haven't had a winner at Flemington yet, so to get a winner at Flemington … would be really good.' Keane has ridden 72 winners the past three seasons, including seven in town. She scored Saturday metro winner in Adelaide last year. Keane quit boxing five years ago to focus on becoming a jockey. 'It's not really a sport you can do both with, so I had to choose one and haven't looked back since,' Keane said. 'I grew out of boxing and once I got into racing I fell in love with that.'
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Apprentice jockey Luke Cartwright lost for words after running treble for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman at Sandown
Rising star apprentice jockey Luke Cartwright marked an early career highlight with a Saturday city running treble – all for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Cartwright showcased his riding talents in the whirlwind 90-minute window at Sandown Hillside. He opened the account with a patient ride on Suances, wove a path home from back in the field, and then guided the wayward Saban to victory in the 1800m Benchmark 100. The 18-year-old rolled forward on Roadcone from a wide draw in the 1600m Benchmark 84 and built an unassailable lead. 'I am a bit speechless … I had a nice even book and if they turned up I thought they could run a really nice race,' Cartwright said. 'For all horses to turn up and have myself give them a good ride, it means a lot.' Coleman was thrilled to share the treble with Cartwright. 'Luke has been doing work for us behind the scenes … (great) to see him rewarded,' Coleman said. " @LukeCartwrightt could win on a pogo stick at the moment!" Roadcone runs them into the turf under the star apprentice Jockey 🤩 Three in a row for @kscoleman, Luke & @moodyracingpgm 😱 — (@Racing) May 24, 2025 'It was a lovely ride there, he looked at me a little bit funny when I said if he begins as well as he did at Pakenham you might find yourself in front, I'm not sure what he thought of that pre-race. 'When the horse jumped as well as he did there was no questions how it was going to pan out from there … with that light weight on his back they weren't going to catch him.' Cartwright has ridden 68 winners including seven in town. The Moody-Coleman yard has supplied his past five city winners.
The Australian
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Warwick Farm preview: Title fire still burns bright for Anna Roper
Missing the early part of the season put Anna Roper's goal of winning the Sydney Apprentices title behind the Eight ball but she hasn't given up hope and a solid book of rides at Warwick Farm can help her build on her tally. Roper missed the first three months of the current season due to a quad injury that required surgery and then getting kicked by a horse which extended her time off. 'The apprentice premiership was meant to be the target but loosing that much time made it a bit of an issue but at the same time, you never what what's going to happen in this job,' said Roper. 'In the end, it was a case of just getting on with it and do the best I can for the season. Hopefully without any more injuries. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'It's not impossible. If I can keep riding consistently until the end of the season. 'Obviously Braith (Nock) has a bit of a lead on us but I will give it my best.' One of Roper's leading chances at Warwick Farm is Livin' Thing in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m). The John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding resumed with a handy win on a heavy track at Kembla from Zaragoza who franked the form with a win at the same course last weekend. 'I really have a lot of time for this horse,' Roper said. 'He gave me a very nice feel at Kembla. From the top of the straight, I always thought he would go straight past them but he had a bit of a think about things. Not because he wasn't genuine but rather he was green and didn't know what to do. 'He still managed to win on raw ability. 'He will learn a lot from that run and I think he's a nice horse going forward once he puts it together a bit better. 'I'm excited to be back on board and up to metro grade. Seeing if he is going to be competitive against the better horses.' Roper also combines with O'Shea and Charlton when Natural Deduction contests the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m). The gelding was doing his best work late when a three length seventh behind Seafall over this same track and distance on May 7. 'It was a really good run,' she said. 'Obviously he was first-up over the mile and he was very fresh and got quite keen in the run. 'To finish off the way he did, I was impressed. 'Second-up with that edge off him, he might relax better. He's drawn a better barrier so hopefully I can have him closer in the run. 'His is two from two second-up and should be a good chance. My only concern is the heavy track which he hasn't been tried on.' Roper rode Junebug to victory at Wyong before a third behind stablemate Asgoodassobergets on Gosford Cup Day. The mare drops back to a Benchmark 72 Handicap (2110m). 'She is a great little horse. The wet track is the most important thing for her,' said Roper. 'She is very honest and loves her job. As long as she gets a smooth run, she is easy to ride. 'It was a very good run last start especially as she had to jump from the outside gate and do all the bullocking work to get across to the front. It was a huge effort. 'I really like her in this field, especially come back to midweek grade.' Roper also rides Fear No Evil for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Lady Boss for Ciaron Maher. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Every time trainer Gratz Vella has raised the bar, Good Prize has responded with an even better performance. Good Prize scored a couple of nice wins at Queanbeyan over 1200m and 1460m earlier this preparation, but since stepping up to 1600m, the gelding has been even more impressive. 'He has really found his best form. I haven't done anything different with him on the track, I think he has just matured now,' said Vella. 'Once I got him over a bit longer distance has helped. 'I have a little mate with him – a goat. Ever since I put them together, that's when the results started to come.' It started with a Benchmark 65 on his home track at Canberra on April 2 with a near three length win from The Right Rein and the pair returned 16 days later in a Benchmark 84 with Good Prize beating his rival by over two lengths. Vella asked the gelding to step up to provincial company and set him for a Benchmark 68 at Kembla where he again pout a margin on his rivals, this time a two-and-a-half length win from Strawberry Impact. 'After the second Canberra win, I thought he might need two or three weeks to get over the run because he had going straight to Open company and it wasn't a bad field,' he said. 'He recovered so quickly though. He was eating well, his attitude was still good and he actually come on from the run. 'I was quite happy to go to Kembla and take Coriah (Keatings) to claim three kilos. I thought he was a big chance. 'I thought he was in a bit of trouble there at one stage but once he got his action flowing, he just left them for dead. 'I think he will be better again over 2000 metres but at the moment, we will stick with the 1600 metres where he has been doing a good job.' Vella is happy to give the four-year-old a shot at midweek company in the Drinkwise Mile Benchmark 72 where he has barrier 3. 'I think he's a very good chance again,' he said. 'He hasn't gone backwards since Kembla. He's still a very happy horse. 'He has a nice barrier and Coriah rides him again.' Good Prize opened $7 with TAB Fixed Odds and firmed into $5.50 behind Sounds Unusual at $4.20 and Naval Commission at $5.
