Richard Jolly Horse Racing News
01/12/09
RJR Stable Apprentice Riding High
LibbyHopwood has enjoyed success locally and interstate, winning the $50,000 Ladies Invitational at Moonee Valley in October as well as a leg of the National Apprentice Challenge at Canterbury in Sydney last year.
Hopwood, 22, has ridden 50 winners since January (97 overall) and has 18 city winners already this season to be third on the Metropolitan Jockey Premiership.
"Libby thoroughly deserves to win this award," Apprentice Academy training supervisor Bill Forrestal said.
"She's worked very hard in her two years with us and has achieved very highly in all aspects of what we do at the academy."
Hopwood also claimed the SA Racehorse Owners' Association and Senior Public Speaking awards, as well as being recognised for Most Winners in the Academy Year.
Runner-up dux went to Tillie Neve, who also picked up the award for best Second Year Apprentice Award. Neve, 19, has ridden 37 winners since January (68 overall), including 13 in the metropolitan area.
She also won a leg of the National Apprentice Challenge but her season highlight came with a win in the $70,000 Matrice Stakes aboard Taos Pleasure.
Jordan Frew won the award for Best First Year Apprentice having recorded his first metropolitan success, with Lauren Stojakovic winning the Most Improved.
Forrestal said the night highlighted the outstanding year his young group had enjoyed and he anticipated further success in the new year.
"I'm really thrilled by the progress of such a young group," he said.
"Libby, Tillie and Claudia Lions are regularly riding city winners and Lauren Stojakovic and Jordan Frew have also started riding in town."We'll go into the new year with some terrific young talent."
THOROUGHBRED RACING SA APPRENTICE AWARDS
Dux of the Academy ........ Libby Hopwood
Master of Dux .............. Richard Jolly
Dux Runner-up ............... Tillie Neve
Best 2nd year.................Tillie Neve
The Advertiser Best 1st year... Jordan Frew
Best Country ............ Melissa Walters
Most Improved.......... Lauren Stojakovic
Racing Minister's Achievement... Scott Bailey
Special achievements.... Amy Herrmann, Tillie Neve and Lauren Stojakovic
SAROA .................. Libby Hopwood
Most winners ............. Libby Hopwood
Encouragement Awards ................... Krystal Bishop, Melanie Tyndall
Public Speaking..... Libby Hopwood/Scott Westover
Longest Priced Winners .... Scott Bailey, Claudia Lions, Kate Dyson and Tillie Neve
Dux of the Academy ........ Libby Hopwood
Master of Dux .............. Richard Jolly
Dux Runner-up ............... Tillie Neve
Best 2nd year.................Tillie Neve
The Advertiser Best 1st year... Jordan Frew
Best Country ............ Melissa Walters
Most Improved.......... Lauren Stojakovic
Racing Minister's Achievement... Scott Bailey
Special achievements.... Amy Herrmann, Tillie Neve and Lauren Stojakovic
SAROA .................. Libby Hopwood
Most winners ............. Libby Hopwood
Encouragement Awards ................... Krystal Bishop, Melanie Tyndall
Public Speaking..... Libby Hopwood/Scott Westover
Longest Priced Winners .... Scott Bailey, Claudia Lions, Kate Dyson and Tillie Neve
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