Racing NSW Rising Star Apprentice Series 2024/25
Leaderboard - Click here for updated points table (as at 19th December 2024)
Claire Ramsbotham Lands Rising Star Series Prize At Queanbeyan [Thursday 19th December]
Apprentice Claire Ramsbotham has celebrated her first Rising Star Series win after taking out Heat 8 at Queanbeyan on Wednesday (18th December).
Ramsbotham piloted Artist to a narrow victory over Olivia Dalton (Midnight Luna) to take the honours with Kim Shoard (Vermicella) running third.
Mollie Fitzgerald maintains a one point lead in the Series with Taree to host Heat 9 on 7th January 2025.
Leeshelle Small Wins Scone Rising Star Series Heat [Wednesday 18th December]
Apprentice Leeshelle Small enjoyed her first Rising Star Series victory after taking out Heat 7 at Scone on Wednesday (18th December).
Small piloted Great Point to victory for trainer Rodney Northam, with Lauren Van Tijn (Corpsman) and Siena Grima (Pharoahzano) rounding out the placings.
Despite a 4th placing today on You Think You Know, Mollie Fitzgerald has tallied enough points to take the lead in the Rising Star Series point score from early leader, Jessica Brookes.
Shayleigh Ingelse Claims Tamworth Rising Star Victory [Tuesday 26th November]
Shayleigh Ingelse celebrated her first Rising Star Series victory for the season after taking out Heat 4 at Tamworth. Ingelse scored a narrow victory aboard Ardonaugh ($15) for trainer Ray Hartley to take honours in a close finish.
Cobi Vitler on roughie Takemine ($71) scored second placing with Cassey Williams (The Lupercal-$9) third. Jessica Brookes, Shae Wilkes and Amy O'Driscoll sit atop of the Rising Star point score boasting eight points apiece.
The Series now heads to the city with Warwick Farm hosting Heat 5 next Wednesday 4th December. Check out the Rising Star Series page for the latest point score, honour roll, conditions etc.
Glenn Cahill kicks off Rising Star campaign with Goulburn victory
Glenn Cahill has kicked off his Rising Star Series campaign by taking victory in Heat 3 at Goulburn on Monday (November 18th).
The 21-year-old scored a determined victory on board Ken'Ker for trainer Matthew Dale.
Olivia Chambers (Perfumist) was a close 2nd with Amy O'Driscoll (Trianon), 3rd.
Despite finishing unplaced at Goulburn, Jessica Brookes maintains the Series lead while boasting 8 points.
The Series heads to Tamworth next with Heat 4 scheduled on November 26th.
Shae Wilkes wins Heat 2 at Taree
Shae Wilkes celebrated her first Rising Star Series victory after winning Heat 2 at Taree on Sunday (November 17th).
Wilkes partnered with Smart Serenade for trainer Nick Mitchell to take honours and now joins Jessica Brookes at the top of the Rising Star point score.
Courtney Ferris (Buffett) claimed 2nd placing with Mollie Fitzgerald (Selfless Valour), 3rd.
Jessica Brookes wins Rising Star Series opener at Wagga
Jessica Brookes is the early Rising Star Series leader after taking out Heat 1 in a at Wagga on Friday (November 1st).
Brookes scored a narrow victory on board Kaida Blaze for trainer Peter Clancy to take honours in what was an all-female contested apprentice event.
Amy O'Driscoll (Whitehart) came charging home down with an outside run to claim 2nd while Ella McGuirk (Oimbari) held on for 3rd.
Rising Star Series Conditions
1. The Series is open to NSW and ACT indentured apprentice riders who are enrolled at Racing NSW Apprentice Schools.
2. Preference will be given to apprentice riders who, in order:
- (i) fulfil the requirements of the NSW Apprentice and Traineeship Act of 2001.
- (ii) are on loan from another state (for longer than two months) and who have been placed with the trainer of a horse nominated in a heat.
- (iii) are on loan from another country and do not fit the requirements of Part (i).
Riders from Category (ii) and (iii) may ride in a heat but may not attain points. Individual awards for heats shall be made to the highest placed rider from Category (i).
In the event that there are insufficient qualified apprentice riders available on the day of a series race, after confirmation from the Racing NSW Training Dept, Stewards may permit an Interstate Apprentice Jockey who does not qualify under Category (ii) to ride. These riders may not attain points.
3. The Rising Star Racing Colours will be carried by the apprentice leading the series at the time the heat is run, or if the leading rider is not competing, the topweight will carry the colours.
4. Points will be awarded for each race on the following basis:
(i) First Place - 7 points; Second Place - 5 points; Third Place - 3 points; Fourth Place – 2 points; All other placings - 1 point
(ii) In the case of a dead heat, the effected placing's points shall be added together then divided by the number of dead heaters.
(iii) If an apprentice is declared for a ride and the horse is subsequently scratched, the apprentice will gain one point.
5. Apprentices who are due to come out of their time during the period of the Rising Star series will be eligible to compete until such time as their apprenticeship finishes. These apprentices will also be eligible to become the overall Rising Star Series winner, with points earned in the races in which they are eligible to ride to be considered in the final tally.
6. All heats will be restricted to 12 starters.
7. At the conclusion of all scheduled Series Heats, the rider who has accumulated the most points will be declared the Rising Star Series Champion.
(i). In the event of more than one rider finishing on equal points after the last Heat, a count-back will occur. The Apprentice with the most race wins, and subsequently the most 2nds then 3rds within the series will be declared the outright winner.
8. Racing NSW can amend the Rising Star Series Conditions at any time, to ensure equal opportunity for all participants.
