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By Ray Hickson

From pony club rivals as eight-year-olds to the Group 1 stage at Royal Randwick.

Apprentices Siena Grima and Mollie Fitzgerald, now both 24, have been duelling since long before they wanted to be jockeys and it’s fitting they make their debut at the top level together on Saturday.

Grima, last season’s champion apprentice, rides God’s Window for her boss Chris Waller in the Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom (1600m) while Fitzgerald partners Encap for Gary Portelli.

Both horses are considered outsiders but they’ll also be horses neither rider will forget.

“Siena and I grew up doing pony club together so it’s pretty cool to be going through at the same time as her,’’ Fitzgerald said.

“We were always competing in the same age groups back then.”

This was at Camden Haven pony club and there’s some conjecture over who was the better rider as a youngster.

“I’m going to say me,’’ Grima said.

“I’ve known Mollie and her dad (Malcolm) since we were really young, eight or nine, when we were competing with each other. And we’re still competing with each other just at a different discipline.”

Their paths to Group 1 racing have been a little different with Grima joining the Chris Waller stable late last year and claiming the apprentice title, while Fitzgerald has been with the Annabel & Rob Archibald yard for almost two years.

Mollie Fitzgerald and Siena Grima make their Group 1 debuts together in Saturday's Epsom at Randwick (Pic: Jess Webber/Bradley Photos).

Fitzgerald had her first ride in a Group race two weeks ago, partnering Flying For Fun in the Group 2 Shorts, and she says that’s helping settle the nerves.

“This is what you dream of, since I was a kid watching all the big races when I was little, it was massive having my first Group ride the other day and being in a Group 1 is awesome,’’ she said.

“Hopefully the nerves are out of the way from last week, it’s a super different feeling pre race and how the race was run. With that being my first time I’ll go into Saturday feeling a bit like I’ve gone through it before.

“It’s great to be a part of it and be in the moment because it’s a cool opportunity.”

Her ride Encap is no stranger to bobbing up in a big Randwick mile, he ran third in the Doncaster in 2025 and last year he finished ninth behind Autumn Glow in the Epsom.

The gelding did that on the seven day back-up from running fourth in the Shannon Stakes, which is the position he achieved in that race last weekend.

“I’m actually really keen to ride him, I’ve seen a bit of him over the years and he definitely has the ability,’’ Fitzgerald said.

“He seems to be a quirky horse but I tend to get along with them so hopefully we are a good match together.”

Grima has had a few weeks of notice that she’d be riding God’s Window in the Epsom though her initial conversations with Darren Beadman had her a little confused.

The import is a horse she knows well, she won on him back in May and was rapt with his effort in running fifth in the Theo Marks three weeks ago at 1300m.

“I knew something was going on because (Darren) had been pestering me about dropping my weight to 51kg, then he pulled me aside at the trials one day and said could I ride God’s Window at 50kg in the Epsom,’’ she said.

“I said I’d gladly take the ride. I’ve had a few Listed and Group rides, I have a bit of a feel for it now and I’m coming into my first Group 1 ride on a horse I know quite well.

“That takes a lot of worry out of it, I know what he’s like.

“Based on his runs and the way he’s been going, I ride him trackwork, with 50kg I genuinely think he is a good chance.

“I have thought about how it’s not just a ride in the race, he’s a possible top five if not top three chance. I know there are good horses in there but he’s right there with them.”

Now that Fitzgerald has become a regular in the apprentice ranks in Sydney she’s eager to give Grima a run for her money in this season’s premiership.

It’s just a continuation of a rivalry, a friendly one, that’s been going for around 16 years. From the fun and education of ponies to the high stakes of thoroughbred racing.

“Last season I wanted to take the provincial apprentice which I managed to do and this season it’s the goal to be metro apprentice,’’ she said.

Grima looks forward to the competition.

“It’s been an incredible year so if I can have anything like the last season I’d be more than happy,’’ she said.

“(Having Mollie coming through) keeps me on my toes and keeps me working harder so I welcome it.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting