Seven rising stars of the saddle have been celebrated at Racing Victoria’s (RV) 2023 Apprentice Jockey Training Program (AJTP) Graduation, with Matt Cartwright winning two of the five awards handed out at tonight’s ceremony held at Flemington Racecourse.
Cartwright, who finished ninth in the 2021-22 Victorian metropolitan premiership with 38 winners, claimed both the Victorian Jockeys Association’s Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in Training and the RV Elite Apprentice Jockey awards to cap a proud night for his family with younger brother Luke one of eight young riders officially inducted into the AJTP.
Will Price, Celine Gaudray and Carleen Hefel were the other three award winners on the night, with Laura Lafferty, Kiran Quilty and Campbell Rawiller rounding out the seven-strong contingent of riders to complete their four-year apprenticeship with RV.
Price, whose brother Ben is one of South Australia’s leading apprentices and father Simon was a Group 1-winning jockey, was rewarded for his commitment to his craft with the Andrew Gilbert Sports Science Award.
The award, which is named in honour of Victorian apprentice jockey Andrew Gilbert who suffered a fatal fall in 2001, recognises the achievements of an AJTP graduate in the fields of health and fitness.
The only peer-voted prize, the Mikaela Claridge Sportsmanship Award, went the way of Gaudray who in the eyes of her fellow apprentices demonstrated sportsmanship and offered encouragement, guidance and approachability through her words and deeds both on and off the track.
Hefel finished runner-up in the voting for the Sportsmanship Award, and she was recognised for her professionalism in and out of the saddle when she took home the Victorian Wakeful Club Scholarship. The mature-age apprentice, who has ridden 150 winners to date, was presented with a $1,000 grant by the Wakfeul Club.
Having ridden more than 300 winners between them, Lafferty, Quilty and Rawiller were also commended for their time in the AJTP, whose alumni include Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys Craig Williams, Michelle Payne and Jye McNeil.
“The seven apprentices graduating have all laid the foundation for a successful riding career through the training, knowledge and guidance afforded across the four years of our Apprentice Jockey Training Program,” RV’s Workforce Capability Manager, Lisa Hocking, said.
“We congratulate all graduates, in particular those who have been recognised with an award, for working hard to chase their dream and establish a platform for a professional career in racing.
“The support and encouragement each rider has received, particularly from family and friends, has been crucial not only to their development as jockeys, but as people.
“We wish all the graduates the very best of luck for their riding career and hope that they all enjoy long careers in the racing industry.”
The ceremony at Flemington Racecourse also saw the induction of eight new members into the AJTP, with the class of 2023 comprising Logan Bates, Jordyn Weatherley, Beau Treloar, Luke Cartwright, Caitlin Hollowood, Sarah Field, Lauren Burke and Thomas Spillane.
Further information regarding the inductees, click here.