Apprentice jockey Carleen HefelĀ is keeping her feet firmly on the ground despite extending her lead in theĀ MelbourneĀ Apprentices’ Premiership race.
After landing a double at Caulfield last Saturday, including her first winĀ inĀ a Stakes race, Hefel guided CoriolisĀ to victory in the LadbrokesĀ Racing Club Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday.
That victory, at her first ride for Godolphin and James Cummings put Hefel four wins clear of Celine Gaudray in the Apprentices’ Premiership Race.
Settling in the second half of the field, Hefel pulled Coriolis ($6.50) out to the centre of the track where she rocketed home to score by 1-Ā½ lengths from Southern Chilli ($12) with the $5.50 favourite The Guava a further head away third.
“I’m not getting ahead of myself,” Hefel said.
“ThereĀ areĀ still five or six meetings to go to the end of the season.”
Celebrations willĀ alsoĀ be kept on hold for HefelĀ despiteĀ riding her first winner for Godolphin.
After landing her first win in a Stakes race for Peter MoodyĀ aboard SighĀ in the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday, Hefel celebrated with a quiet dinner.
“I wasĀ very quietĀ as I had to ride on Sunday,” Hefel said.
“I went out for dinner and had a couple of champagnes.”
Hefel said it was amazing to get the call up from Godolphin to ride Coriolis on Wednesday.
“They’reĀ a good team to ride for,” she said.
“YouĀ don’tĀ take riding for Godolphin lightly. The teamĀ don’tĀ just put anyone on, so they must have been watching and that filly was cherryĀ ripeĀ for today.
“She got off the bridle and they rolled along a bit, and she wasĀ not quite comfortableĀ in the ground, but she showed a good turn of foot.
“(Assistant trainer)Ā SeanĀ (Keogh)Ā wasĀ pretty confidentĀ that she would show a nice turn of footĀ and once she straightened up, she showed it.”
Hefel will look to extend her lead at Flemington on Saturday where she has rides in eight of the nine races afterĀ competing at Bendigo on Thursday and Bairnsdale on Friday.
