Latest News

New Canberra apprentice jockey Jessie Philpot is out to break into the winner’s circle at Wagga on Friday with Out Of The Night and Crusader General.

Philpot had been riding in country Victoria until recently before going on loan to Keith Dryden and Scott Collings who have training bases at Canberra and Goulburn.

The 22-year-old is the daughter of former jockeys Gus and Donna Philpot and in six rides since relocating has finished second, third and fourth.

She is keen to break through for her new bosses and Crusader General is her best hope after being placed at his two starts this campaign.

Philpot rode Crusader General at her first ride at Canberra when finishing second and with only a light weight of 51 kilograms he could be a knockout chance in the Harrison &Higgins Autumn Sprint (1200m).

The young jockey has already ridden 17 winners and is hoping to break through for the stable which has given her most of her opportunities since relocating.

“Crusader General is a nice horse who should run well in a pretty strong race,” she said.

Philpot has ridden winners in country Victoria and Queensland and is in her fourth year as an apprentice.

She is part of a large female contingent of jockeys who make up a large number of the riders at district meetings.

Philpot is indentured to her father who has been training for a decade after 20 years in the saddle.

Her mother retired due to injuries, but during her riding days was the first female to win the Cairns Amateur Cup.

In those days there were few female jockeys, but now it’s a more even balance of males to females.

Weighting in at only 48 kilograms, Jessie has a long history with horses and started riding an ex-racehorses at the age of 12.

The Dryden-Collings stable will also be represented by the top weight Ziganui who has finished second, third and fourth twice in four starts since a break.

Ziganui was close-up behind So Willie at Hawkesbury two weeks ago and is dropping a lot in class.

The other feature race on Friday is the Marathon (2500m) where impressive last start Wagga Cup carnival winner, Class Clown, runs.

The top weight Blue Jangles has won twice this campaign, including once over 2400 metres, and performed well last start at the Warrnambool Cup carnival.

View the fields, form and race replays for Wagga' Friday meeting here.