TWO Ballarat girls are among a crop of 14 new Racing Victoria’ apprentice jockey training program inductees.
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Leticia Griffin and Amber Sims have joined the program.
Griffin, 20, is apprenticed to Dan O’Sullivan and Sims, 20, is attached to Daniel P Kelly’s stable.
While Griffin is only embarking on a professional riding career, Sims is from New Zealand and has been a jockey for more than 12 months.
Sims has ridden three winners from just the 16 race rides.
The other inductees also feature Lachlan King, a son of Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Steven King, and Stephanie Thornton, the sister of young jockeys Damien and Boris Thornton, and daughter of Geelong-based trainer Glenn Thornton.
Stephen Brown junior, a son of Flemington horseman Stephen Brown, is another newcomer to jockey ranks.
Racing Victoria athlete development and industry careers advisor Melissa Weatherley said each individual would be given extensive coaching to further develop the skills, relationships and experience necessary to succeed at the highest level.
The group underwent a stringent selection process to gain entry into the four-year 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.
“These athletes 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 knowledge support required to develop a career once they decide to retire from professional riding,” Weatherley said.
“Our young athletes continue to receive fantastic opportunities through the program with Harry Coffey, Jye McNeil, Josh Cartwright, Regan Bayliss and Jessica Payne all invited to attend international apprentice-only riding series’ during 2014.
“Exciting opportunities such as these will be presented to these athletes in the program over the next four years and we look forward to assisting their ongoing development.”