• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Catch of the decade
  • Season on the line for Seagulls
  • Pythons face an uphill battle, Redlegs stumble
  • Ketch blown ashore in Dromana
  • Early morning hit
  • Boxing world mourns loss of a champion
  • Successfully navigating the path of anxiety
  • Ryman abandons Mt Martha centre
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»Apprentice looks forward despite setbacks
News

Apprentice looks forward despite setbacks

By Keith PlattJanuary 25, 2016Updated:January 25, 2016No Comments3 Mins Read
Elite training: Apprentice jockey Mikaela Lawrence, pictured with trainer  Sam Pritchard-Gordon, has been inducted into Victoria Racing’s elite jockey apprenticeship program. Picture: Racing Victoria
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Elite training: Apprentice jockey Mikaela Lawrence, pictured with trainer  Sam Pritchard-Gordon, has been inducted into Victoria Racing’s elite jockey apprenticeship program. Picture: Racing Victoria
Elite training: Apprentice jockey Mikaela Lawrence, pictured with trainer Sam Pritchard-Gordon, has been inducted into Victoria Racing’s elite jockey apprenticeship program. Picture: Racing Victoria

MORNINGTON’S Mikaela Lawrence has her sights set on joining the top ranks of race-winning jockeys.

Already working for Mornington-based trainer Sam Pritchard-Gordon (P-G Racing), Lawrence has now joined Racing Victoria’s apprentice jockey training program.

“Mikaela, 21, is the oldest of four students selected for the program’s first year class, and has fought hard to earn her position in the high performance program, having not come from a horsey background,” Racing Victoria’s media and communications officer Daniel Miles said.

In announcing Lawrence’s induction into the elite jockey training program, the P-G Racing website described the 49 kilogram apprentice as “a great example of someone breaking in to a very tough industry from a non-racing background”.

Lawrence began her racing career as a stable hand to Peter Moody and was soon promoted to riding track work.

But in August 2014 she broke her back, only returning to the saddle about a year ago at P-G Racing’s Kingscote Stables.

Since her return Lawrence has ridden some of the stable’s gallops and a few jump outs, including a win at Balnarring.

Lawrence was one of seven apprentice jockeys hopeful of beginning their journey to Group 1 glory inducted into this year’s jockey training program.

She is the oldest of four riders selected to join the first-year apprentice class, with three other jockeys joining the third and fourth year classes after starting their riding careers interstate.

Lawrence joins Jackie Elliot, Emily Azzopardi and Liam Riordan in the first year apprentice class.

Athlete development and industry careers advisor Melissa Weatherley said the apprentices would receive “extensive coaching to develop the skills, relationships and experience necessary to succeed at the highest level”.

“These young riders will not only hone their race riding skills, learn how to live, eat and train as elite sports people, but will also be equipped with the requisite support to develop a successful career once they decide to retire from professional riding,” Weatherley said.

Twenty three of the program’s 50 apprentices are women, continuing a trend of increased participation over the past three years since a record intake of female apprentices in 2014.

Weatherley said the select group underwent a stringent talent identification process to gain entry into the four-year high performance program which offers specialist learning in areas such as race riding, performance analysis, sports science and sports medicine, as well as media, finance and business skills.

The aspiring jockeys will be coached by retired jockey Matthew Pumpa, former Victorian trainer Matthew Hyland and jockey wellbeing and safety officer, Ron Hall.

First published in the Mornington News – 26 January 2016

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Early morning hit

August 8, 2022

Ryman abandons Mt Martha centre

August 8, 2022

Saving on power costs

August 8, 2022

Opportunites for baristas

August 1, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
Aug 10, 2022 - Wed
Mornington, Australia
7°C
clear sky
clear sky
3 m/s, E
72%
769.57 mmHg
wed08/10 thu08/11 fri08/12 sat08/13 sun08/14
overcast clouds
11/10°C
moderate rain
11/11°C
light rain
14/12°C
light rain
12/9°C
light rain
11/11°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

July 25, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

May 26, 2022
Council Watch

Shire ‘committed’ to aged care

August 8, 2022

Shire not forced to drop aged care services

August 1, 2022
State Elections 2022

‘Justice’ for animals and climate

August 8, 2022

Peta Murphy wins second term in Dunkley

May 23, 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022
Interview

All aboard for murder mystery

July 25, 2022
Property of the Week

14 Lynch Court, Mt Martha

July 26, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Ketch blown ashore in Dromana

August 8, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.